TV Travel Shop
founder Harry Goodman has started a High Court battle with the company over his
contract.
In conjunction
with former managing director Seamus Conlon, the now-redundant pair have filed
a joint writ against TV Travel Group calling for the restrictions on their
contracts not to be enforced.
Goodman founded TV
Travel Shop in 1997, but it was sold to InterActive Corporation, which also now
owns Expedia, in May 2002. In August 2002 former Airtours Holidays MD Seamus
Conlon joined the company, but both were made redundant in July last year.
Goodman’s basic
salary at TV Travel Shop was £265,000, while Conlon took home an annual basic
wage of £220,000.
In the writ they
argue their gardening leave periods were longer than necessary and a 12-month
ban on dealing with any TV Travel Group suppliers or clients and setting up in
competition effectively stops them from working in the travel industry.
Goodman’s
gardening leave was six months from July, ending this Thursday, while Conlon’s
gardening period was three months from July, but extended to Thursday.
The claim said:
“Given the claimants’ exclusive backgrounds in the industry, these clauses
would preclude them from working in any senior capacity in the only business in
which they have expertise. The clauses
extend far beyond what is necessary.”
Goodman and Conlon
also argue that since last July, the television travel marketing industry has
developed so rapidly that their knowledge of TV Travel Shop contracts would no
longer be relevant.
The claim also
asserts InterActive reneged on promises about TV Travel Shop’s UK operation and
at the time planned expansion into the US. TV Travel Group and InterActive
Corporation declined to comment.