Gilbert
An Edwardsville realtor says he wants one of his former brokers to stop trying to lure employees from his office to hers.
Donald W. Brown Inc., doing business as Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors, filed a lawsuit against Lisa M. Smoot on March 13 in Madison County Circuit Court.
According to the complaint, Smoot worked as a broker manager for Brown Realtors from March 2004 through her resignation in November 2011. During that time, Smoot allegedly signed a contract stating that, upon her departure from the Edwardsville company and for three years following, she would refrain from recruiting or encouraging Brown Realtors employees to leave the company.
Brown contends Smoot has violated that contract by directly or indirectly soliciting other agents and employees to leave Brown Realtors and join her new employer, Prudential One Realty Center in Edwardsville. Brown says Smoot has done so on at least four occasions.
Brown is suing Smoot for breach of contract and asking for more than $50,000 in damages. He also seeks an injunction to stop Smoot from continuing to allegedly recruit other employees from Brown Realtors.
Attorney John J. Gilbert of Edwardsville is representing Brown.
Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-317