Mary Ann Moreno, Plaintiff: v. Circle K Stores, Inc. Defendant:

Summary

The court answered affirmatively that Colorado recognizes a narrow public-policy exception to at-will employment when an employee is terminated for lawfully exercising the right to self-defense in response to an unprovoked attack at work. It held that the statutory and constitutional sources of that right clearly express public policy, protect a public and essential right, and make the right job-related because workplace attacks can require its exercise. The court did not decide whether Moreno acted in self-defense, whether Circle K's policy prohibited self-defense, or whether her termination was actually based on self-defense.