Opinion ID: 880343
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: a. The Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

Text: Given these facts, did the District Court err in granting ACS's motion for summary judgment when it found that as a matter of law the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing did not arise because the ACS gave Karell no reasonable expectation of job security? The criteria for review of summary judgment are well settled. The standard for review of a summary judgment is the same as that used by the trial court. Frigon v. Morrison-Maierle, Inc. (Mont. 1988), 760 P.2d 57, 59, 45 St.Rep. 1344, 1346. Summary judgment is properly granted when it appears that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56(c), M.R.Civ.P. Once the moving party meets its burden of establishing facts sufficient to satisfy both statutory requirements, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to show the existence of a genuine issue of fact. Gamble Robinson Co. v. Carousel Properties (1984), 212 Mont. 305, 311-12, 688 P.2d 283, 286-87. The non-moving party's evidence of an issue of fact must be substantial and material. Benson v. Diehl (Mont. 1987), 745 P.2d 315, 316, 44 St.Rep. 1455, 1456. Here, we hold that there is no genuine issue of material fact which requires reversal of the summary judgment. When, as in this case, there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, the question of whether or not the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing arises is a matter of law to be decided by the judge. In determining whether the covenant of good faith and fair dealing is implied in a particular case, the trial court must look to the employment relationship of the parties. Whether a covenant of good faith and fair dealing is implied in a particular case depends upon objective manifestations by the employer giving rise to the employee's reasonable belief that he or she has job security and will be treated fairly. Dare v. Montana Petroleum Marketing Co. (1984), 212 Mont. 274, 282, 687 P.2d 1015, 1020.