Garcia v. Service Corp. International
Cemetery worker Mateo Ruelas Garcia was terminated from his employment after damaging an existing gravesite with a backhoe, then covering up the damage instead of reporting it to his supervisor, as required by company policy. He made two claims against his employer for wrongful termination in violation of public policies protecting whistleblowers, which were rejected by a jury; however, the jury found an implied covenant not to terminate except for good cause, and a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
The trial court granted judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) for the defendants. The ruling is correct. The company handbook describes employees as “at-will,†and plaintiff testified at trial to his understanding that he could be terminated at any time and for any reason. There is no evidence that plaintiff received individual promises that he would be terminated only for good cause, and mere longevity of employment does not establish a right to remain on the job indefinitely. We affirm.
Comments on Garcia v. Service Corp. International