Castillo-Sang v. Christ Hosp. Cardiovascular Assocs., L.L.C.

**What Happened:** Dr. Castillo-Sang, a heart surgeon, had a contract with The Christ Hospital Cardiovascular Associates that included a non-compete clause. This clause prevented him from working for competing medical practices in surrounding counties for 12 months after leaving his job. When his employment ended, the hospital tried to enforce this restriction to stop him from working elsewhere. Dr. Castillo-Sang went to court asking for an injunction to block the hospital from enforcing the non-compete agreement. **What the Court Decided:** Both the trial court and appeals court ruled in favor of Dr. Castillo-Sang. The courts found that the 12-month restriction covering multiple counties was too broad and would cause him unreasonable hardship. The hospital couldn't prove that the doctor had access to confidential information or trade secrets that would justify such a sweeping restriction. The court granted an injunction preventing the hospital from enforcing the non-compete clause. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case shows that courts will examine whether non-compete agreements are reasonable and necessary. Employers can't simply impose overly broad restrictions that prevent workers from earning a living. Non-compete clauses must be tailored to protect legitimate business interests, not just eliminate competition.