Opinion ID: 2099936
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: ARCB's Liability for Breach of Contract

Text: The final issue is whether ARCB can be held liable for breaching Dr. Cluff's alleged promise. ARCB argues that Ms. Rinck's employment was terminated by ABHC, and since the corporations had not yet merged, it cannot be held liable for the termination. Ms. Rinck, however, presents evidence that Dr. Cluff had the ultimate responsibility for the termination. For example, in an answer to an interrogatory ARCB stated that Mr. Rippey, the Acting President of ABHC, advised Dr. Cluff that he had decided to terminate Ms. Rinck if Dr. Cluff did not object, and that he did not object. A prior chairman of ABHC and member of the team that negotiated the merger also testified in his deposition that commencing at the time the merger agreement was reached, Dr. Cluff had responsibility for the staffing of the future merged association. There is additional evidence in support of Ms. Rinck's contention that ARCB is liable to her pursuant to her contract of employment, but the foregoing is sufficient to resolve the question before us. We conclude that enough evidence has been presented to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether ARCB, acting through Dr. Cluff, was ultimately responsible for Ms. Rinck's termination. Therefore, we must reverse the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of ARCB, and remand the case for further proceedings. It is so ordered.