Kenneth L. Thompson, Appellant v. St. Regis Paper Company, Respondent

Summary

The Washington Supreme Court reversed summary judgment for St. Regis Paper Company in a wrongful discharge action brought by a divisional controller fired after seventeen years without any stated cause. The court reaffirmed that no implied for-cause contract arose from the employer's invention-assignment agreement or general policy statements, and it declined to adopt a broad good-faith covenant exception to the at-will doctrine. It nevertheless held that handbook promises of specific treatment in specific situations can become enforceable obligations and recognized a new tort action for discharge contravening a clear mandate of public policy, finding material fact questions on both theories. It also reversed the denial of the plaintiff's motion to compel interrogatory answers and remanded for trial.