Opinion ID: 1635386
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mission's Arguments

Text: Mission presents four principal issues. First, Mission argues that there is no duty of care owed by an employer in its decision to fire an at-will employee. It asserts that the court of appeals has effectively created a new cause of action in Texas for negligent termination. Mission contends that this holding jeopardizes the employment-at-will doctrine, which generally permits an employer to terminate an at-will employee for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all. See City of Midland v. O'Bryant, 18 S.W.3d 209, 216 (Tex.2000). Second, Mission argues Solomon presented no evidence that its mishandling of the urine sample caused Solomon to receive a positive drug test result. Third, Mission asserts that the court of appeals' holding regarding Solomon's mental anguish damages conflicts with Boyles v. Kerr, 855 S.W.2d 593, 597 (Tex.1993), in which we rejected the tort of negligent infliction of emotional distress. Finally, Mission contends there is no evidence of malice to support the jury's punitive damages award.