The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in late August, striking down the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ban on noncompete clauses in employment contracts. This issue has been hotly debated over the past several years and the court’s decision serves as a win for the business community’s ability to contract with its employees.

According to U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark, “This decision is a significant win in the Chamber’s fight against government micromanagement of business decisions. A sweeping prohibition of noncompete agreements by the FTC was an unlawful extension of power that would have put American workers, businesses and our economy at a competitive disadvantage.”

Ashton Eller is the Indiana Chamber’s vice president of health care and employment law. For the prior 14 years, Eller worked at the organization in other roles – the last five as manager of political affairs. Previously, he spent two years at the Indiana Department of Labor. Eller also is a former president and member of the Indiana State Fair Board of Directors, elected from District 7.