Case ID: mass_350/html/0352-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Wilkins, C.J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Frank A. Flynn vs. Patrick C. Murphy & others.
    Bristol.
    February 10, 1966.
    March 4, 1966.
    Present: Wilkins, C.J., Whittemore, Cutter, Spiegel, & Reardon, JJ.
    
      Contract, Covenant against competition. Equity Pleading and Practice, Findings by judge, Report of material facts.
    On a report of material facts under G. L. c. 214, § 23, in a suit in equity there is no room for any implication of further facts.
    Under a provision of a company’s profit sharing retirement plan, that “a member would forfeit ... his account if he . . . entered the employ of a competitor . . . within two years after his separation from [the company’s] employment,” a member who entered the employ of a competitor within such time forfeited his account even though he entered a department of the competitor not in competition with the company.
    Bill in equity filed in the Superior Court on August 27, 1963.
    The suit was heard by Gourdin, J.
    
      Philip Golts for the defendants.
    
      Edward Wolper for the plaintiff.
   Wilkins, C.J.

The plaintiff, a former employee of Precision Thread Co., Inc. (Precision), a Massachusetts corporation, brings this bill in equity against Precision and four trustees of a trust instrument under Precision’s profit sharing retirement plan to recover a sum of money allegedly due him under the plan.

The judge made a report of the material facts found by him under the statute. G-. L. c. 214, § 23. The evidence is not reported.

The plaintiff was an assistant chemist engaged in the manufacture of extruded rubber thread. As such he became entitled to $1,820.67 as his share in the plan. There was a provision that “a member would forfeit the unpaid portion of his account if he entered into competition with the company and entered the employ of a competitor, or revealed trade secrets of the company within two years after his separation from employment.” The plaintiff severed relations with Precision and became an employee of S. P. A. Fillattice, of Milan, Italy. The defendants determined that the plaintiff had forfeited his share because he had violated the provisions of the plan. The plaintiff “engaged with the Italian company to set up a new department engaged in the process called Spandex.” Precision at the time of the plaintiff’s employment was also experimenting with Spandex, but the plaintiff was not engaged in that department. “On these facts,” the trial judge found that the plaintiff did not enter into competition with Precision, or reveal trade secrets, and that although he entered the employ of a company which was in competition in some respects, he entered a department which was not in competition. The judge found that the plaintiff is entitled to his share in the fund.

The final decree adjudged that the defendant trustees are indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $1,820.67 and interest and ordered its payment. The defendant trustees appealed.

By the phrase “on these facts” the trial judge based his conclusion upon the findings reported by him. In a report of material facts mad.e under G. L. c. 214, § 23, there is no room for any implication of further facts. Topor v. Topor, 287 Mass. 473, 476. Goldston v. Randolph, 293 Mass. 253, 255. Wilkins v. Berkeley Realty Corp. 311 Mass. 148, 151. Compare Birnbaum v. Pamoukis, 301 Mass. 559, 562. There is a clear finding that the plaintiff entered the employ of a competitor of Precision. The qualifying finding that he entered a department not in competition with Precision and hence did not lose his rights in the fund is an alteration of the contract which is not permissible.

The final decree is reversed. A final decree shall be entered dismissing the bill.

So ordered.