Opinion ID: 1961170
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Res East Of City

Text: Appellee also placed a help wanted ad, advertising for more CPAs and office personnel, in the Aberdeen American News, in addition to ads in area newspapers published outside Walworth County, to announce the termination of his association with the partnership and the opening of his office in Corson County. None of these acts fell within the restricted areas. We therefore hold that, under the facts as they were before the trial court at the time of appellee's motion for summary judgment, appellee did not violate the above covenants. Appellants also allege that appellee destroyed the goodwill which he had sold to appellants, so they should not now be obligated to pay for such goodwill. There is nothing in the record to support this contention. Appellants were aware that Mobridge is situated adjacent to the Corson-Walworth County lines. The agreement anticipated that he would continue to reside in Mobridge with the proviso only that he not conduct a CPA practice in the county of his residence. Appellants were fully aware that the relationship between a CPA and his client is far different from that between a ribbon clerk and his customers. They could reasonably have anticipated that appellant's clients would be inclined to retain the services of the accountant who had been their adviser in previous years. Appellee remained within the confines of the parties' agreement, refrained from doing that which he was restricted from doing, and did nothing more than what the parties had contracted that he be allowed to do. Injunctive relief could not lie to further restrict him. Appellants are obligated under the contract, which they also negotiated and signed, to pay appellee for his goodwill. Based on the evidence before it, and viewing it in the light most favorable to appellants, the trial court found no genuine issue of material fact to exist, so it granted appellee's motion for summary judgment. We agree and accordingly affirm. WOLLMAN, C. J., concurs. FOSHEIM, J., concurs specially. DUNN and HENDERSON, JJ., dissent.