Julie Constantine v. Phifer Phillips & White Pc ( 2023 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
JULIE CONSTANTINE, UNPUBLISHED
March 9, 2023
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v No. 360856
Wayne Circuit Court
PHIFER, PHILLIPS & WHITE, PC, RANDOLPH LC No. 21-014840-CK
D. PHIFER, and DWIGHT W. PHILLIPS,
Defendants-Appellees.
Before: RICK, P.J., and M. J. KELLY and RIORDAN, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In this action regarding defendants’ alleged promise to make employment severance
payments to plaintiff, plaintiff appeals as of right the order granting defendants summary
disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8), arguing that she stated valid claims for breach of contract and
promissory estoppel for which factual developments could justify a right to recovery. We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This lawsuit claiming breach of contract and promissory estoppel arises out of a severance
pay dispute. Defendant, Phifer, Phillips & White, PC (PP&W) was a law firm. Defendant
Randolph D. Phifer was a shareholder and president, and defendant Dwight W. Phillips was a
shareholder. Plaintiff was employed by PP&W as a legal assistant and assistant to the office
manager from March 2010 to February 2019. The law office was closed for business in December
2018, and the firm was dissolved in 2020. In anticipation of the closure, Phifer promised plaintiff
and another employee severance pay. Phifer, from his personal checking account, paid $1,000 to
plaintiff in July 2019, but defendants made no other severance payments. Plaintiff thus filed the
instant action, seeking to enforce the promise through claims of breach of contract and promissory
estoppel.
Defendants each moved for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8). The trial court
granted summary disposition under that subrule, stating that plaintiff failed to demonstrate that a
valid contract was formed. The trial court explained that in her complaint, plaintiff pointed only
to past consideration to establish a breach of contract claim citing, “all of [her] work over the
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years,” and the fact she had not received raises. The trial court also stated that plaintiff failed to
allege that she was required to act, or forbear to act, to receive the severance payment, or that she
acted in reliance on defendants’ alleged promises. Furthermore, the trial court indicated that there
was no allegation showing that an individual contract or promise was made by Phillips, whom the
parties agree never discussed severance payments with plaintiff, or by Phifer, because plaintiff
provided no allegation that Phifer made the promise in any capacity other than on behalf of the
law firm. The trial court denied plaintiff’s request to amend her complaint, finding that her
proposed amendment regarding inducement to remain with the law firm until it was dissolved to
be in contradiction of the original complaint and therefore not a justified amendment.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
This Court reviews de novo whether pleadings sufficiently state a claim to survive a motion
under MCR 2.116(C)(8). See Glasker-Davis v Auvenshine, 333 Mich App 222, 229; 964 NW2d
809 (2020). Under this court rule, a party may seek dismissal of a claim on the grounds that the
“opposing party has failed to state a claim on which relief can be granted.” MCR 2.116(C)(8).
A motion under MCR 2.116(C)(8) tests the legal sufficiency of a claim on the pleadings
alone. Bailey v Schaaf, 494 Mich 595, 603; 835 NW2d 413 (2013). In analyzing the claim, courts
must accept as true all the factual allegations. See El-Khalil v Oakwood Healthcare, Inc, 504 Mich
152, 160; 934 NW2d 665 (2019). However, “Michigan is ‘a traditional notice-pleading
jurisdiction’ with ‘a relatively low bar’ for the sufficiency of initial allegations, particularly
because parties generally will not yet have the benefit of discovery.” Glasker-Davis, 333 Mich
App at 229-330, quoting Tomasik v State of Michigan, 327 Mich App 660, 677-678; 935 NW2d
369 (2019). As such, courts must construe the allegations in the light most favorable to the
nonmoving party, see Maiden v Rozwood, 461 Mich 109, 119; 597 NW2d 817 (1999), which
includes making all reasonable inferences or conclusions that can be drawn from the facts alleged
in the nonmoving party’s favor, Gorman v American Honda Motor Co, Inc, 302 Mich App 113,
131; 839 NW2d 223 (2013).
Although the failure to allege an element of a claim can be fatal for purposes of a motion
under MCR 2.116(C)(8), the failure to identify the evidence in support of an element is not. See
El-Khalil, 504 Mich at 162. A motion under MCR 2.116(C)(8) “should be granted only when the
claim is so clearly unenforceable as a matter of law that no factual development could possibly
justify a right to recovery.” Mich Ins Repair Co v Mfr Nat’l Bank of Detroit, 194 Mich App 668,
673; 487 NW2d 517 (1992).
III. ANALYSIS
The trial court did not err in granting summary disposition because plaintiff failed to state
a claim, for breach of contract or promissory estoppel, on which relief could be granted.
To establish a claim for breach of contract, a party “must establish by a preponderance of
the evidence that (1) there was a contract, (2) the other party breached the contract, and (3) the
breach resulted in damages to the party claiming the breach.” Bank of Am, NA v First American
Title Ins Co, 499 Mich 74, 100; 878 NW2d 816 (2016). Because the failure to allege an element
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of a claim can be fatal, El-Khalil, 504 Mich at 162, the first question is whether plaintiff’s
complaint alleges all the elements required to establish a contract.
“A valid contract requires five elements: (1) parties competent to contract, (2) a proper
subject matter, (3) legal consideration, (4) mutuality of agreement, and (5) mutuality of
obligation.” AFT Mich v Mich, 497 Mich 197, 235; 866 NW2d 782 (2015). Addressing the
element of consideration, “ ‘past consideration [cannot] constitute a legal consideration for [a]
subsequent agreement.’ ” Prentis Family Foundation v Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute,
266 Mich App 39, 58 n 7; 698 NW2d 900 (2005), quoting Shirey v Camden, 314 Mich 128, 138;
22 NW2d 98 (1946).
With regard to consideration in cases involving employer promises of severance payments,
our Supreme Court has found enforceable contracts where there is evidence of consideration
consisting of continued service with the company. Cain v Allen Electric & Equip Co, 346 Mich
568, 579-580; 78 NW2d 296 (1956); see also Dumas v Auto Club Ins Ass’n, 437 Mich 521, 530;
473 NW2d 652 (1991). However, this Court has held, when there is specific evidence of an
employer’s intent not to be contractually bound by severance policies, such a disclaimer can
“prevent[] a contractual offer from ever arising,” making such policies unenforceable under
contract law. Bodnar v St John Providence, Inc, 327 Mich App 203, 219; 933 NW2d 363 (2019).
This Court has also distinguished cases where an employer’s promise of severance pay “did not
require plaintiffs’ action or forbearance in reliance on the employer’s promise,” as materially
different from cases where promises of severance required a set length of service before an
employee is vested in the entitlement. Klein v HP Pelzer Automotive Systems, Inc, 306 Mich App
67, 77-78; 854 NW2d 521 (2014).
The only allegation regarding any form of consideration plaintiff provides in her complaint
is that Phifer stated that the severance pay he promised was “for all [her] work over the years and
because [she] had not received any raises during that time period.” Thus, the reasons for the
promise cited in the complaint consist entirely of past performance of duties. Though all
reasonable inferences must be drawn in the nonmoving party’s favor, Gorman, 302 Mich App at
131, plaintiff provided only these past consideration reasons for the promises. To infer that there
were additional reasons for the promises that plaintiff failed to mention is not a reasonable
inference to make. Even if one infers consideration of continued service similar to a vesting
requirement, which has been a prerequisite to make a severance pay promise binding, plaintiff fails
to allege the necessary element of mutual agreement. In her complaint, plaintiff fails to specify
the period of continued service required of her. In short, plaintiff has not alleged valid legal
consideration and even if, as she argues, this element should be inferred, she has not alleged a
mutual agreement. Thus, plaintiff has failed to state a legally sufficient claim for breach of
contract.
Turning to plaintiff’s alternative claim of promissory estoppel, this Court has stated:
The elements of a promissory estoppel claim consist of (1) a promise (2)
that the promisor should reasonably have expected to induce action of a definite
and substantial character on the part of the promisee and (3) that, in fact, produced
reliance or forbearance of that nature (4) in circumstances requiring enforcement
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of the promise if injustice is to be avoided. [Zaremba Equip, Inc v Harco Nat’l Ins
Co, 280 Mich App 16, 41; 761 NW2d 151 (2008).]
This Court also has held that the promise must be “an actual, clear, and definite promise.”
Ypsilanti Twp v Gen Motors Corp, 201 Mich App 128, 134; 506 NW2d 556 (1993).
Plaintiff’s claim for promissory estoppel is insufficient because of a lack of reliance, the
third element of that claim. Plaintiff failed to allege any change of position, either in the form of
action or forbearance, she undertook in reliance on the promise of severance pay. Plaintiff was
paid for her work during the office closure period. Plaintiff argues that defendants, as her
employers and supervisors, and in a position of trust, should have reasonably expected the promise
of severance would induce plaintiff to continue her employment through the closure period.
However, there is no reason for this Court to infer actual acts or forbearance or reliance when
plaintiff had the opportunity to allege such actions, but did not. For these reasons, the claim of
promissory estoppel is insufficient and the granting of summary disposition on this claim was
proper.1
IV. CONCLUSION
The trial court did not err by granting summary disposition in favor of defendants under
MCR 2.116(C)(8). Therefore, we affirm.
/s/ Michelle M. Rick
/s/ Michael J. Kelly
/s/ Michael J. Riordan
1
While plaintiff mentions the trial court’s ruling on a possible amendment of her complaint in her
statement of facts on appeal, she provided no argument or citation to authority stating that this
denial was in error. Because “[f]ailure to properly brief an issue on appeal constitutes
abandonment of the question,” Gross v Gen Motors Corp, 448 Mich 147, 161 n 8; 528 NW2d 707(1995), we need not address that issue.
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