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Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 16600.5

Contracts in Restraint of Trade

Applied in 1 court decision — leading case Bioskryb Genomics, Inc. v. Aclarity Genomics Inc. (2025)

Most recently applied in Bioskryb Genomics, Inc. v. Aclarity Genomics Inc. (September 2025)

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 157, Sec. 2

(a) Any contract that is void under this chapter is unenforceable regardless of where and when the contract was signed.

(b) An employer or former employer shall not attempt to enforce a contract that is void under this chapter regardless of whether the contract was signed and the employment was maintained outside of California.

(c) An employer shall not enter into a contract with an employee or prospective employee that includes a provision that is void under this chapter.

(d) An employer that enters into a contract that is void under this chapter or attempts to enforce a contract that is void under this chapter commits a civil violation.

(e) (1) An employee, former employee, or prospective employee may bring a private action to enforce this chapter for injunctive relief or the recovery of actual damages, or both.

(2) In addition to the remedies described in paragraph (1), a prevailing employee, former employee, or prospective employee in an action based on a violation of this chapter shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

Official source: California Legislative Information. Reproduced from public-domain California statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.