HI, I OPENED A GARDEN MAINTENANCE & LANDSCAPING BUSINESS IN 2006 AND TOOK ON A PARTNER, HE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A COMPLETE DUD. IS HARDLY EVER AT WORK AND BRINGS NO EXTRA WORK IN & ACTS LIKE AN EMPLOYEE AND DOES THE BARE MINIMAL AND HAS MADE A MANY ENEMY WITH CLIENTS, NOT ONLY THIS BUT HE ALSO BAD MOUTHES ME TO OUR CLIENTS. HE TOLD ME HE WAS A QUALIFIED LANDSCAPER AND IS NOT AND NOW I AM LET TO DO EVERYTHING. I HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO KEEP THE BUSINESS RUNNING AND BOUGHT IN ALL THE LANDSCAPING WORK, AND BARELY AM ABLE TO TAKE LEAVE. I EVENTUALLY GOT GATVOL AND UPON HIS VERBAL AGREEMENT OPENED A NEW COMPANY OF MY OWN TO DO LANDSCAPING THROUGH, AND HAVE ALLOWED THE FIRST COMPANY TO CONTINUE WITH THE MAINTENANCE, OF WHICH WE STILL ARE MEMBERS 50/50 RECEIVING SALARIES 50/50. HOWEVER NOW HE CLAIMS THIS NEW COMPANY IS IN CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND BEEN TO A LAWYER ETC. I ACTUALLY JUST WANT TO GET RID OF HIM ALTOGETHER REGARDING BUSINESS I'VE TRIED TO BE FAIR TO HIM BUT ONLY WITH A SLAP IN THE FACE, HOW DO I GO ABOUT "BUYING HIM OUT" AND WHAT IF HE REFUSES. AND WHAT ARE THE LEGAL IMPLIACTIONS TO ME OPENING THIS NEW CC.?