KAREN RENNY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. PORT HURON HOSPITAL, Defendant-Appellant, 427 Mich. 415

Summary

The employer contended that the trial court committed error requiring reversal in allowing the jury to determine as a matter of fact whether the employee handbook established an employment contract allowing discharge only for "just cause." The employer further contended that the trial court erred in allowing the jury to consider whether the decision of the grievance board upholding the employee's discharge was final and binding. The court first held that the trial court properly submitted the question of a just-cause contract to the jury. The existence of a just-cause contract was a question of fact for the jury where the employer established written policies and procedures by which to discharge an employee, but did not expressly retain the right to terminate employees at will. Second, although the employee expressly consented to submit a complaint to a joint employer-employee grievance board established by the employer with the knowledge that the resulting decision was final and ...