Opinion ID: 74405
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Huntsman

Text: Huntsman claims that the issue of lifetime employment was secondary, almost [a] throw-away claim to Wesson's ADEA claim, touted by Huntsman to be the centerpiece of Wesson's complaint. It contends that lifetime employment claim is based only upon the following Wesson deposition testimony: A. And then [Mr. Huntsman] told me that they needed me. They wanted me on board, that I had skills and talents, that I had done an excellent job with Shell and that I had been handpicked to be on the transition team and he was hand picking me to become a permanent employee of Shell—I mean of Huntsman. And that he felt that I would do a good job, that I would wear more hats than any hats I had ever worn in Shell. I would have more responsibility than I ever dreamed possible in Shell and I would have the adequate authority to go with that responsibility. And I would be able to make decisions that I couldn't even dream of making within the Shell organization. And that if I came on 7 Implicit in the definition of permanent employment established by Alabama Mills, see note 6 supra, and its progeny, Wesson argues, are the issues of the continued need for a plaintiff's services and his or her performance abilities. See Bates v. Jim Walter Resources, Inc., 418 So.2d 903 (Ala.1982). In this regard, Wesson contends that although Huntsman was undergoing a reorganization, there was a continued need for his sales services. Id. at 906. Wesson claims that immediately after he was terminated, a person with far less qualifications was hired to sell chemical products in the area where he was formerly employed. In addition, Wesson claims that the evidence is undisputed that he had performed his job with Huntsman for thirteen years in a satisfactory manner, who either continually met or exceeded his sales goals. Hence, he argues there was no reason for his discharge and that he has presented a prima facie case, sufficient to withstand summary judgment, that Huntsman made to him an unequivocal offer of permanent employment. 5 board with him, I would never regret it as long as I lived. And he would be forever grateful indebted to me for making what he considered from my standpoint a rather high risk opportunity ... A. Jon Huntsman told me that, as I have already stated, that I would wear these hats. I would have these responsibilities, I would have authority to go with the responsibilities. We were going to grow a company that would stagger the imagination of the industry ... A. He said that my concern was the least of the concerns that I should have, and that as long as he had a company I will always have a job with Huntsman. Q. As long as he had a company. Is this sum and substance of what he said or is that a quote? A. That's basically a quote. (Emphasis added.). These statements, Huntsman argues, are not the clear and unequivocal evidence necessary under Alabama law to support a claim for an oral contract of lifetime employment. Birmingham-Jefferson County, 669 So.2d at 827. Under Alabama law, an employee claiming an oral contract for lifetime has a particularly heavy burden of proof as these contracts are extraordinary and not lightly to be implied. Alabama Mills, 186 So. at 704; Howard v. Wolff Broadcasting Corp., 611 So.2d 307, 310-11 (Ala.1992); Chastain v. KellySpringfield Tire Co., 733 F.2d 1479, 1484 (11th Cir.1984). Huntsman argues that the alleged remark made by Mr. Huntsman was too vague and indefinite to support an extraordinary claim for a lifetime contract. Huntsman contends that it is also telling that Wesson made his own notes, both on the written offer of employment and on a separate piece of paper. No part of those notes and no aspect of the written offer refers to or suggests any term of employment or a guarantee of lifetime employment. In other words, Huntsman asserts, none of the remarks alleged to be made by Mr. Huntsman were made in a contractual context. As to consideration, Huntsman claims that giving up existing employment with Shell does not satisfy the sufficient, independent consideration element of Birmingham-Jefferson County. See Orsini v. Trojan Steel Corp., 219 S.C. 272, 64 S.E.2d 878, 880 (1951). Also, Wesson did not surrender anything to work for 6 Huntsman, and not Shell, as he received substantial additional benefits, i.e. comparable employee benefits and a $17,000.00 signing bonus.8