Court Opinion

ID: 9662574
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:13:28.307053+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:40.826216
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Justice,
concurring specially.
I write separately to set forth what I understand to be the rationale for what otherwise might appear to be an opinion which reaches inconsistent and conflicting results. The majority opinion holds that Moser’s act of dismissing Hennum was ultra vires. It further affirms the dismissal of the Federal constitutional claim and reverses that portion of the trial court’s judgment which found that Moser tortiously interfered with Hennum’s contract with the City and remands for further proceedings to determine whether or not Moser was justified in terminating Hennum’s employment. The majority opinion affirms the award of damages to Hennum and against the City for breach of contract. It is the latter which may seem inconsistent, for if Moser was justified in terminating Hen-num, how can there be a breach of contract? The answer apparently lies in the various causes of action, i.e., in tortious interference with contract the interference must be intentional and requires a greater culpability than is required under basic tort principles. DeVoto v. Pacific Fidelity Life Ins. Co., 618 F.2d 1340 (9th Cir.1980).
Therefore, although the intent necessary to prove tortious interference with the contract is dependent upon Moser’s justification for termination, Moser did not have the authority to terminate the contract insofar as the breach-of-contract action is concerned, and the City’s liability under breach of contract arises as a result of the City’s inaction with regard to Moser’s termination of Hennum. Although this may appear to be a tort rather than contract cause of action, it is not discussed by the majority; but the issue of the City’s liability with respect to the breach-of-contract action- if Moser acted ultra vires was not raised nor briefed as a separate issue. I therefore concur in the result reached by the majority opinion.