Opinion ID: 2091909
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Currie's Discharge

Text: [¶7] In March 2001subsequent to Currie's reports regarding the unauthorized workers and Ouellette's unsafe driving, but prior to his report regarding the dumping of paint thinnerOuellette and Johnson, Currie's supervisor at ISI, met and discussed the possibility of Currie's discharge. Although Ouellette wanted Johnson to discharge Currie, Johnson resisted because he believed Currie was doing a good job. Ouellette recommended Currie's firing a number of times between March and July 2001. [¶8] ISI and IFPI assert that the discharge decision was made at this March 2001 meeting, whereas Currie asserts that it was made at a later, July 2001, meeting. Currie asserts that, in July 2001 on the morning of his discharge, Ouellette and Johnson met and discussed Currie's February 2001 report regarding the unauthorized workers as well as the dumping of paint thinner. [4] Currie believes that his discharge was motivated not only by the report regarding the unauthorized workers but also by the reports regarding Ouellette's unsafe driving and the dumping of paint thinner. [¶9] On July 18, 2001, Johnson fired Currie. At the time of Currie's firing, however, based on what he then knew, Johnson did not want to fire him. Johnson expressed this sentiment to Currie when he fired him, but refused to tell him the reason for the firing. Moreover, Johnson admitted that had Ouellette told him that he no longer wanted Currie fired, he would not have fired him. Johnson never had a problem with Currie during Currie's employment. [¶10] Following his discharge, Currie filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission pursuant to 26 M.R.S. § 834-A (2005), received a right to sue letter pursuant to 5 M.R.S. § 4612(6) (2005), and commenced this action. Currie alleged that ISI and IFPIacting either as an integrated entity or as principal and agent, respectivelyhad violated the MHRA and WPA. Currie further alleged that, even if IFPI was neither integrated with nor an agent of ISI, it had tortiously interfered with his contractual relationship with ISI. ISI and IFPI moved for a summary judgment, [5] the court granted their motion, and Currie brought this appeal.