CLAYTON, Mo. (CN) - Tax preparation businesses must follow rules and regulations of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, so they have no trade secrets to protect, a class of tax preparers says in challenging noncompete agreements. The class of former employees sued Jackson Hewitt and Individual Taxes Etc. in St. Louis County Court.
Named plaintiff Gene Swartzenberg says full- and part-time tax preparers are required to sign the agreement, which bards them from any tax preparation business for 2 years and within a 25-mile radius of any location owned by the defendants. It also prohibits employees from using the defendants' confidential information for their own gain.
The class is represented by J. Scott Kessinger of St. Louis.
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