Court Opinion

ID: 9484125
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 09:41:30.454706+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:02.304780
License: Public Domain

RIPPLE, Circuit Judge,
concurring in the judgment.
Although the issue is a close one, I believe that the district court correctly determined that there is no genuine issue of triable fact that justifies further proceedings on Mr. Stromberger’s allegation that 3M fraudulently induced his resignation. The record will not support the allegation that 3M knowingly made a false statement of material fact, see Gerill Corp. v. Jack L. Hargrove Builders, Inc., 128 Ill.2d 179, 131 Ill.Dec. 155, 161, 538 N.E.2d 530, 536 cert. denied sub nom. 493 U.S. 894, 110 S.Ct. 243, 107 L.Ed.2d 193 (1989), or engaged in a scheme to defraud. See Stamatakis Indus., Inc. v. King, 165 Ill.App.3d 879, 117 Ill.Dec. 419, 421-22, 520 N.E.2d 770, 772-73 (1987).
Two considerations prevent my joining the ground of decision adopted by my colleagues. First, I have difficulty in concluding, on the basis of the record before the district court, that Mr. Stromberger would have been discharged if he had not resigned. As the district court notes, such a conclusion is difficult to square with 3M’s offer of a second chance at employment through the unassigned list even after Mr. Stromberger had resigned. More importantly, I believe that, when our jurisdiction is based on a diversity of citizenship, we ought to be very circumspect in choosing as an alternate ground for decision an interpretation of state law that has not been briefed fully by counsel or addressed by the district court. This caution is especially important when, as here, this courts interpretation may impact on the economic life of the state in a way never intended by its legislature or its judiciary. The court’s application of the law of fraud to the at-will employee provides a significant weapon for an employer intent on “downsizing,” however ruthlessly, its business. It will not go unnoticed. While the Illinois courts are, of course, free to ignore our interpretations of Illinois law, it would be unrealistic to discount the impact of this court’s holding until Illinois either confirms or denies that this interpretation represents accurately the public policy of Illinois. As the district court’s opinion demonstrates, there is a more conventional ground for decision. We should rely upon it.