If your employer brings a legal claim against you for breach of confidence and is successful, the court may award three different kinds of remedy: Injunction. The court may order you to not disclose or use the information. Account of profits. Damages.
In California, a nondisclosure agreement may be enforceable, provided it meets basic criteria. The restrictive covenant must be properly drafted. This entails clear writing, detailed information about the confidential components of the contract, and a clearly stated extent of the confidentiality obligation.
To get out of an NDA, you have to be sure that it is legally binding. For example, you cannot be liable for an NDA that covers up illegal activity by the issuer. A lawyer can help you assess your risks and determine how you should move forward.
Here are the primary forms of damages available in NDA litigation: Compensatory Damages: These are designed to compensate the non-breaching party for actual losses caused by the breach, such as lost business opportunities, reputational damage, or financial harm.
An NDA could be unenforceable if it is too broad, is not for a defined time period, covers information that is not confidential, or asks for illegal conduct.
A plaintiff can also frequently pursue an injunction as a remedy for breach of an NDA. An injunction is a court order prohibiting the defendant from further disclosing or using the proprietary information or trade secret that was the subject of the NDA.
By February 14, 2024, employers must notify current employees and former employees (employed after January 1, 2022), whom the employer required to sign noncompete or customer nonsolicitation provisions, that those provisions are void under California law.
An NDA may contain terms that individuals may consider unfair or excessively burdensome. For example, it may impose restrictions that are too broad in scope or have a lengthy duration. Individuals may be hesitant to sign such agreements without seeking legal advice or negotiating more favorable terms.
California Legislature Strikes at Confidentiality Clauses in Consumer Refunds and Settlement Agreements. A targeted change to California law will prohibit non-disparagement and similar confidentiality clauses in consumer settlement agreements and refund policies.