Vance S. Leithead, Appellant (plaintiff) v. American Colloid Company, a Delaware Corporation, and Myron Durtsche…

Summary

The court held that American Colloid's employee handbooks became enforceable terms of Leithead's employment contract and gave him a right to discharge only for cause, requiring reversal of summary judgment on his wrongful-discharge claim. Because factual disputes remained regarding whether Leithead disclosed confidential information and whether that conduct constituted cause, the court remanded for further proceedings. The court also recognized intentional infliction of emotional distress as a Wyoming cause of action but affirmed summary judgment because Leithead's alleged distress was not sufficiently severe and, insofar as it was tied to the alleged accusation, implicated a settled slander claim.