I've heard of two or three people in my lifetime that had a company try to enforce a non-compete. Two were during a Microsoft/Google fight, and one was in the late 60s with a scientist.
Has anybody around here been sued after leaving a company due to a non-compete clause?
I worked for a company based in New Mexico while I lived in California. When we both got sick of each other, at the exit interview the HR personnel on the phone from New Mexico told me I could not work in IT for the next 2 years as I signed a non-compete agreement. I just started laughing at them and told them I lived in California and good luck with enforcing that contract. End of conversation and I was out in the parking lot 5 minutes later, still laughing.
Non-competes are usually enforced indirectly. Most companies will ask if you have a non-compete, and a lot of them will just refuse to hire you if you do.
I know someone who was threatened with a lawsuit over a non-compete contract by a web development contracting company. He consulted with a lawyer in the state the contract was signed, and ended up settling with his original employer for a series of cash payments. It led some people (including myself) to quit the company that sued, but it has also resulted in a number of employees deciding that looking for new employment was too risky. I'm posting under a throwaway for obvious reasons.
Has anybody around here been sued after leaving a company due to a non-compete clause?