Milwaukee Linen Supply Co. v. Ring

Ring (defendant) worked as a linen deliveryman for Milwaukee Linen Supply Co. (plaintiff), and upon being promoted to manager in 1930 with a raise, signed a non-compete barring him from soliciting or diverting Milwaukee Linen customers for two years after leaving; his employment was at will. After Milwaukee Linen fired Ring in 1932, he was unable to find acceptable work outside the linen business, partly due to a physical disability, and took a job as a driver for a competitor; the trial court found the non-compete not reasonably necessary to Milwaukee Linen's business and unduly harmful to Ring, denying injunctive relief and entering judgment for Ring.