Court Opinion

ID: 9789133
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:28:27.681265+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:19.740796
License: Public Domain

MORENO, J., Concurring.
I concur in the majority opinion, but write separately to emphasize one point.
The majority devotes substantial attention to employment agreements that authorize termination “upon notice,” or after a specified notice period. (Maj. opn., ante, at pp. 388-391, discussing Bionghi v. Metropolitan Water Dist. (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 1358 [83 Cal.Rptr.2d 388] and Wallis v. Farmers Group, Inc. (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 718 [269 Cal.Rptr. 299].) But the written agreement before us did not use the words “upon notice,” or any equivalent phrasing. Instead, the agreement allowed for termination “at any time.” Our analysis is properly directed at this “at any time” language. The majority has no occasion to express, and does not express, any view as to whether providing for termination “upon notice” also connotes a mutual intention to create an at-will employment arrangement. (See maj. opn., ante, at pp. 390-391.)
*397In my view, a provision that allows for termination “upon notice” does not, by itself, shed light on whether the parties intended an at-will employment contract, or a relationship terminable only for cause. I concur in the majority opinion with the understanding that it takes no position on this issue.