Opinion ID: 1992863
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Past Lost Wages.

Text: This is a retaliatory or wrongful discharge case. Recovery of lost wages is permitted because such an action is an exception to the at-will employment doctrine. Although we did not address the damages issue in Springer, we later recognized a wrongfully discharged employee was entitled to a remedy for his or her complete injury. Niblo, 445 N.W.2d at 355. We approved a recovery of damages caused by mental distress in addition to lost earnings. Id. Later, in Smith, 464 N.W.2d at 687-88, we held it was error for the district court not to submit the issue of loss of future earnings. Thus, it is clear from the law developed since Springer that lost wages are recoverable and are properly considered part of an employee's damages in a wrongful or retaliatory discharge claim.