I'm currently in a termination chess match with my former employer. The two main issues revolve around a non-compete agreement and severance pay. I have signed the original termination / severance agreement. The problem is that I signed it three days after the outlined date in the agreement. I was given an extension via email and had it signed and returned by the extension deadline outlined in the email. I wrote beneath my signature that I was given the extension and also attached a printout of the email. They realized afterwards that the termination agreement voided the non-compete I signed at the beginning of my contract. Now they are saying "The original Separation Letter was not returned in a timely fashion and is therefore not in effect." The new agreements is extremely prohibitive to the point that it wouldn't allow me to pursue a job offer I received.

Everyone that has seen this says I shouldn't sign this and I have the upper hand. In short I would like to be able to pursue my new career opportunity without threat of legal action and also receive my severance as outlined in the original agreement that was signed.

Does anyone have a lawyer suggestion for Charlotte. I the severance isn't huge so ideally I wouldn't use it all on a lawyer!

Thanks in advance!

Concerned husband, father, and expecting father!