Cumulus Taking Ryan Haney To Court Over Non-Compete

UPDATE 4P: A Federal judge has continued the hearing to Thursday 10:30am. No ruling was issued today. Details at MC tomorrow.

Earlier Posting Today...

Citadel Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Cumulus Broadcasting Co. is asking a federal judge this morning to order Ryan Haney, former program director of its Birmingham sports talk radio station WJOX 94.5 FM, to stop working for competitor WZNN ESPN 97.3 The Zone.

The company filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Haney on Monday, according to al.com. Haney had resigned from WJOX on Jan. 21 and a week later began working for The Zone, which is owned by Cox Media Group.

Citadel states in court documents that Haney had a no-compete clause in his contract in which he couldn't work for another local radio station for a year after he leaves.

Citadel's motion to seal the hearing also asks the judge to order Haney or his attorneys not to disclose what is said in the hearing.

Citadel's request for a temporary restraining order asks Haney be stopped from working for The Zone.

Haney's last contract with Citadel ended Dec. 31, 2010, according to court documents. But Citadel's lawsuit states that since that date, under the terms of the old contract, Haney has worked as an at-will employee and all obligations under that contract continued.

Among those obligations, Citadel states in the lawsuit, is that Haney would not provide similar services to another radio station in the Birmingham area  within 60 miles of the transmitter , within one year of leaving.

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