DocketNumber: No. X04-CV-97-0117504-S
Citation Numbers: 2000 Conn. Super. Ct. 10793, 28 Conn. L. Rptr. 47
Judges: KOLETSKY, JUDGE.
Filed Date: 9/1/2000
Status: Non-Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
Mr. Esposito was discharged from his employment on August 5, 1997. Although a revised complaint was filed on September 2, 1997, there are no counts alleging wrongful termination in that pleading. Count three of the revised complaint alleges retaliation, but the claimed retalitory actions consist of reducing the plaintiffs income and benefits because he filed a grievance with the college's Human Resources Department on April 15, 1997.
The plaintiffs first amended complaint, which is the operative complaint, was filed on November 17, 1997, and does contain two counts with allegations of wrongful termination. Count three alleges that the plaintiff was retaliated against, in violation of section
On January 7, 2000, the defendants moved for summary judgment on all fifteen counts of the plaintiffs first amended complaint. The plaintiff filed a withdrawal of count three of the operative complaint on March 23, 2000, the date of oral argument on this motion. The court now addresses the remaining fourteen counts.1
"Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, affidavits and any other proof submitted show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. . . . In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the trial court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. . . . Although the party seeking summary judgment has the burden of showing the nonexistence of any material fact . . . a party opposing summary judgment must substantiate its adverse claim by showing that there is a genuine issue of material fact together with the evidence disclosing the existence of such an issue. . . .It is not enough, however, for the opposing party merely to assert the existence of such a disputed issue. Mere assertions of fact . . . are insufficient to establish the existence of a material fact and, therefore, cannot refute evidence properly presented to the court [in support of a motion for summary judgment]." (Citations omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Home Ins. Co. v. Aetna Life Casualty Co.,
Count one is a claim for breach of an express contract directed against the college. It is alleged that the terms and conditions in the college's employee handbook constitute an express contract between the plaintiff and the college. In the briefs filed by the parties, and at the time of oral argument on this motion, references were made to various provisions contained in the 1994 handbook. The 1994 handbook, at page 6, provides that "[t]his handbook is not a contractual document." Further, language that the handbook is "informational rather than contractual" is found at page 7. At page 19 is the statement that "[n]othing in this handbook is intended as a contract of employment." Page 19 also contains the statement that "[w]e adhere to the principle of employment at will, which allows either party to terminate the employment relationship at any time." Finally, page 58 of the handbook includes the following statements: "All employment with the College is not for my specific period of time, but rather is considered to be at will. You may terminate your employment at any time, and the College may terminate your employment at any time for my legal purpose." The defendants claim these statements are contract disclaimers.
The plaintiff counters by referencing various general provisions in the 1994 handbook speaking to fair and equitable working conditions at the college and various alleged oral representations made by President Gaudiani concerning the college's obligation to treat its employees fairly and equitably. The plaintiff indicates that the college's written offer of employment to him in 1989 expressly states that employment is subject to the terms and conditions as set forth in the handbook. These written and oral statements, according to the plaintiff, constitute an express contract obligating the college to treat him fairly and equitably. The plaintiff contends that the contract disclaimers in the handbook are ineffective because of the inconspicuous location of the language, the failure to print them in bold face print and larger type, and the failure to reference them in the table of contents.
"If [an] agreement is shown by the direct words of the parties, spoken or written, the contract is said to be an express one." Boland v.Catalano,
Whether statements found in an employee handbook can be the basis for finding the existence of a contract between the employer and the employee is an issue which has been addressed in two Connecticut Supreme Court decisions. In Finley v. Aetna Life Casualty Co.,
In Gaudio v. Griffin Health Services Corporation,
We have stated with unambiguous clarity that "employers can protect themselves against employee contract claims based on statements made in personnel manuals" by following either (or both) of two simple procedures: (1) "eschewing language that could reasonably be construed as a basis for a contractual promise"; and/or (2) "including appropriate disclaimers of the intention to contract. . . ." Finley v. Aetna Life Casualty Co., supra,
202 Conn. 199 n. 5.
The court finds as a matter of law that general statements made orally and in writing concerning fair and equitable working conditions and treatment of employees do not rise to the level of an express contract, particularly in light of the explicit contract disclaimers contained in the handbook. The statements in the employee handbook concerning at will employment and the absence of contract formation are sufficient disclaimers to preclude a valid claim for an express contract between the parties. The fact that the plaintiffs offer of employment provides that such employment is subject to the "terms and conditions" set forth in the handbook does not warrant a different conclusion. The "terms and conditions" include the express provisions that employment is "at will" and that the handbook is "informational rather than contractual." The defendants' motion for summary judgment is granted as to the first count of the plaintiffs first amended complaint.
Count four is a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation directed against the college. In his count, the plaintiff alleges that the defendant's oral and written representations were of acts relating to the conditions of plaintiffs employment; that said representations were untrue and known by the defendant to be untrue; that the representations were made for the purpose of inducing the plaintiff to use the grievance procedures; and that the plaintiff did in fact use the grievance procedures because of CT Page 10797 the representations. The count is fatally deficient, however, in that there are no allegations of any damage suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the alleged fraudulent misrepresentations, i.e., the plaintiff does not allege that he was terminated because he utilized the grievance procedure. The complaint is legally insufficient to state a cause of action for fraudulent misrepresentation against the college and, accordingly, the defendants' motion for summary judgment is granted as to count four of the first amended complaint.
Count eight is a claim for invasion of privacy directed against the college. It is alleged that the defendant violated section
Count nine is a claim for wrongful discharge directed against the college. The plaintiff alleges he was terminated for filing grievances with the college (internal whistle-blowing activities) and for filing the complaint with the Attorney General (external whistle-blowing activities). It is claimed that by terminating the plaintiff for these lawful whistle-blowing activities, the defendant has violated an important public policy of the state of Connecticut.
As recognized in the case of Sheets v. Teddy Frosted Foods, Inc.,
Given the inherent vagueness of the concept of public policy, it is often difficult to define precisely the contours of the exception. Nevertheless, the plaintiff CT Page 10798 has not alleged that his discharge violated any explicit statutory or constitutional provision. Nor has he alleged that his dismissal contravened any judicially conceived notion of public policy.
Morris v. Hartford Courant Co.,
In the present case, the plaintiff cites no statutory or constitutional provision in this count which has been violated by his termination. He claims his filing of grievances with the college constitutes an internal whistle-blowing activity and that termination for doing so contravenes an important public policy of this state. This court finds as a matter of law that the Sheets public policy exception does not apply under these circumstances to the plaintiffs utilization of the grievance procedures as outlined in the handbook. Such activities do not implicate a public policy nor do they rise to the level of importance mandated by this narrow exception.
With respect to the filing of the complaint with the Attorney General, the plaintiff specifically characterizes this action as a "whistle-blowing" activity. Section
If it is plaintiffs contention that this lawsuit constitutes the action filed under section
Counts eleven and fourteen are claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress directed against the college and the individual defendant, respectively. Four elements must be established in order for a plaintiff to prevail on such a claim: I) the defendant intended to inflict emotional distress or he knew or should have known that emotional distress was a likely result of his conduct; 2) the conduct was extreme and outrageous; 3) the defendant's conduct was the cause of the plaintiff's distress; and 4) the plaintiffs emotional distress was severe. Petyan v. Ellis,
"Whether the defendant's conduct and the plaintiffs resulting distress are sufficient to satisfy [the elements outlined in Petyan v. Ellis, supra] is a question, in the first instance, for [the] court. Only when reasonable minds can differ does it become an issue for the jury. Reedv. Signode Corporation,
An examination of the affidavits and other documentation submitted by the plaintiff in opposition to this motion for summary judgment does not reveal actions amounting to the extreme and outrageous conduct necessary to support an action for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Although plaintiffs brief references certain actions claimed to constitute outrageous conduct, most of the referenced actions are not described in any of the submitted affidavits or in certified excerpts from depositions. Moreover, while the alleged conduct may have been unprofessional and insulting to the plaintiff, it does not rise, to the level of the extreme and outrageous conduct required for this cause of action. Furthermore, the plaintiffs submissions fail to indicate any symptoms or conditions suffered by plaintiff which would support the severe emotional distress alleged in his complaint. For these reasons, the court grants the defendants' motion for summary judgment as to counts eleven and fourteen of the first amended complaint. CT Page 10800
Count twelve is a claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing directed against the college. Our Supreme Court discussed this cause of action at length in the case of Magnan v.Anaconda Industries, Inc.,
Although we endorse the applicability of the good faith and fair dealing principle to employment contracts, its essence is the fulfillment of the reasonable expectations of the parties. Where employment is clearly terminable at will, a party cannot ordinarily be deemed to lack good faith in exercising this contractual right. Like other contract provisions, which are unenforceable when violative of public policy, the right to discharge at will is subject to the same restriction. We see no reason presently, therefore, to enlarge the circumstances under which an at-will employee may successfully challenge his dismissal beyond the situation where the reason for his discharge involves "impropriety . . . derived from some important violation of public policy." Sheets v. Teddy's Frosted Foods, Inc., supra, 475. Whether a claim resulting from such a discharge is framed in tort or in contract should make no difference with respect to the issue of liability.
Because this court has already determined that the allegations of this complaint do not support a public policy exception, the court grants the defendants' motion for summary judgment as to count twelve of the first amended complaint.
Count fifteen is a claim for aiding and abetting directed against the individual defendant. It is alleged that Ms. Matthews aided and abetted the college in breaching its contract with the plaintiff, negligently misrepresenting the terms of the plaintiffs employment to the plaintiff, and in wrongfully discharging the plaintiff. It is further claimed that Ms. Matthews' actions in aiding and abetting the college resulted in harm to the plaintiff.
"A common law claim for aiding and abetting a statutory violation or tort has been recognized by [our] Supreme Court in Carney v. DeWees, [
The court finds there are genuine issues as to material facts with respect to counts two, five, six, seven, ten and thirteen of the first amended complaint and therefore denies the defendants' motion for summary judgment as to those counts.
Koletsky, J.