I was recently fired from my job of 7 years for doing side jobs on my own time. I have never signed a non compete agreement of any kind. My ex boss now tells me that because I know all of his customers and how much he charges them he will have me arrested if I solicit business from them on my own. He has no contracts with them and I think I could make a living doing this on my own. I don't think he could have me arrested but could he sue me for this?

It's not impossible. Whether he would win the case or not is questionable, but I have seen viable suits filed on the basis of the defendent interfering with the plaintiff's business get to court. So yes, he COULD sue.

I'm not saying he will. I'm not saying he'd win if he did. I'm saying there would be nothing preventing him from filing suit. There doesn't have to be a non-compete in place for that to happen.

I was recently fired from my job of 7 years for doing side jobs on my own time. I have never signed a non compete agreement of any kind. My ex boss now tells me that because I know all of his customers and how much he charges them he will have me arrested if I solicit business from them on my own. He has no contracts with them and I think I could make a living doing this on my own. I don't think he could have me arrested but could he sue me for this?

He could sue. I doubt that he would win, given the absence of a non-compete agreement. If I were him, I would be talking to a lawyer about crafting such an agreement for all new hires.

Your question, though, is can or should you try to do business with the customers of your former employer. Pay a few bucks to talk to a lawyer about this. I would think you would be on safe turf, but check first.