Opinion ID: 696975
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Breach of Contract and Covenant Claims

Text: 33 Campbell argues that summary judgment is appropriate on Plaintiff's claims for breach of contract and the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, claiming that Mullins has failed to establish that her employment was not terminable at will. Alternatively, Campbell argues that Mullins has failed to show that Campbell's proffered reasons for her termination were a pretext for unlawful discrimination. 34 Under California law, an employment contract for an indefinite term is presumed terminable at will by either party, absent an express or implied employment agreement. Foley v. Interactive Data Corp., 254 Cal. Rptr. 211, 223 (1988). The employee challenging a termination has the burden of establishing that an exception to the at-will doctrine applies. See Cal. Lab. Code Sec.2922; Burton v. Security Pacific Nat'l Bank, 243 Cal. Rptr. 277, 280 (Ct. App. 1988). 35 To survive summary judgment, the plaintiff must present facts that will take the case out of the California statutory presumption of at-will employment. Mullins must present facts showing an express or implied contract to terminate only for good cause, or facts showing violation of a strong public policy. Burton, 243 Cal. Rptr. at 280. 36 Plaintiff's only evidence of an implied in fact contract consists of her testimony that she was told by Mike Wyatt that Campbell Soup Company was a family place, from which she inferred that she was guaranteed lifetime employment. Mullins concedes that she had no written employment contract with Campbell, and she has not presented facts sufficient to establish an implied-in-fact employment contract. 37 A breach of covenant claim arises from an enforceable contract. Where no employment contract exists, there is no tort remedy for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Foley, 254 Cal. Rptr. at 234. 38 Campbell Soup articulated a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for Mullins' termination, which Mullins has been unable to rebut. Because Mullins has failed to demonstrate that her employment was other than at will, the district court properly granted summary judgment on these claims. 39