non-competition / NDAs for commerical lease inquieries? Landlord stole my biz idea.

[gregh530]

Hello,


I'm starting a new business (in California) in my area and I'm having a slight issue.. About a month ago, I contacted a realtor about a commercial unit available for lease. He asked what type of business I was starting so I told him, he says "oh, that's a hot new business it should do well here" then I asked him a few more questions which he relayed to the landlord...

About a month later I call him back to ask a few more questions, and he tells me the Landlord is putting in his own business (exactly like mine) in the exact location I was asking about..

Do I have any recourse here? Are NDAs and Non-competition agreements standard for commercial lease inquires?

Thanks in advance,

Greg

 

[FlyingRon]

No you have no recourse. I suppose you could ask for NDA's in the future, but then again nothing keeps people from opening a business in competition to yours as soon as you announce what you are doing. Sounds like you have a tenuous grip as it is.