Court says former Oxford employees violated noncompete

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that the home-health agency can enforce noncompete agreements for two employees who left in 2000 to work for rival Integrity Home Care.

In a unanimous decision Aug. 8, the court affirmed a trial court ruling that former employees Pearl Copeland and LuAnn Helms breached agreements that barred them from working for competitors within a 100-mile radius of Joplin for at least two years after leaving Oxford.

The agreements also stipulated that they were prohibited from diverting Oxford customers or employees during the two-year period, according to court records.

Copeland and Helms attended meetings at the home of Integrity’s owner, and Copeland set up an office in her home for the purpose of conducting Integrity business, records show.

When Oxford sued Copeland and Helms for violating their noncompete agreements, the pair filed suit against their former employer in federal court, seeking revocation of Oxford’s tax-exempt status and a declaration that the agreements were void. The suit was later dismissed.

The state Supreme Court also granted Oxford’s cross-appeal and remanded the case to trial court for alleged damages the company incurred for patients lost to Integrity between Feb. 4, 2000, and July 3, 2000.

Copeland is an employee at Integrity, according to the company's Web site. Helms is not listed. A representative from Integrity could not be reached for comment.

Oxford has two offices in Springfield, one in Joplin and recently opened a fourth office in Branson.

See SBJ’s Aug. 21 issue for more on Oxford HealthCare’s noncompete lawsuit.[[In-content Ad]]