Can I rant for a moment?

I have no where else to anonymously rant so here it is. Just got to get it off my chest.

I left my previous company at the end of the year and started a new job 3 weeks ago. Better pay, better widgets, and all that. I posted about the lesson learned on quitting on the first of a month rather than the last day of a month. I thought that was it.

I left them trying to NOT burn a bridge - phone call to the CRO to give the obligatory 2 weeks notice, offers to do account intros, etc. I'm a nice guy and wanted to part ways amicably. And overall the previous company was good to me. No reason not to, right?

Apparently, because I had accessed the company's database in the days prior to leaving and had taken some screen shots (of what, they didn't say) they decided to end my employment on the day I called to give notice. They didn't bother asking why I had done those thing -> the DB access was to support a partner deal and the screen shots were of the company's benefits presentation.

Fast forward to today - Just got off the phone with my new company's lawyer and the head of HR (the 2 groups most sales people try to avoid at all cost!). Apparently my old company sent them a legal letter/nastygram about "conflicts of interest", non-competes, non-solicits, sharing sensitive information, client stealing, yada yada... So 3 weeks into my new job I have to deal with this excrement.

Luckily, while the 2 companies are industry adjacent (we both sell to utilities and gov't), there is very little product & client crossover. Also the prospect/client criteria is different - the client size ceiling at the previous company and the floor at this company are worlds apart.

Also, trying to enforce a non-compete is my state will more than likely get you slapped down hard. Very hard, if not impossible, to enforce.

I'm pissed. Luckily the new company is on my side. The lawyer was cool with my explanation and HR has said it starts and ends here, and that she has dealt with much worse.

Its embarrassing too. Great way to kick off a new gig eh. Hopefully that's the end of it.

Thanks for letting me rant.