Opinion ID: 697771
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Moore's Wrongful Demotion Claim

Text: 38 Our conclusion that Moore has not shown a constitutional violation also defeats his wrongful demotion tort claim against the City insofar as it relies on his constitutional claim. Moore's state action for wrongful demotion is based on Burk v. K-Mart Corp., 770 P.2d 24 (Okla.1989). Burk provides that an employer can be liable for discharging even an at-will employee if the discharge is contrary to a clear mandate of public policy as articulated by constitutional, statutory, or decisional law. Id. at 28. Moore's Burk claim appears to be based solely on his contention that he was demoted in contravention of his constitutional rights. However, as explained above, we conclude that Defendants did not abridge Moore's First Amendment rights. Accordingly, Moore has failed to establish a basis upon which to claim that he was wrongfully demoted. 7