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GARDNER v. PGE

Oregon Court of Appeals
May 2, 1989
767 P.2d 497 (Or. Ct. App. 1989)

Opinion

A8612-08011; CA A48136

Argued and submitted November 23, 1988

Affirmed January 25, 1989 reconsideration denied March 24, petition for review denied May 2, 1989 ( 307 Or. 719)

Appeal from the Circuit Court, Multnomah County, Charles R. Williamson, Judge pro tempore.

Stephen E. Lawrence, Portland, argued the cause for appellant. With him on the brief was Murphy Lawrence, Portland.

Mary Ellen Hoffman, Portland, argued the cause and filed the brief for respondent.

Before Richardson, Presiding Judge, and Newman and Deits, Judges.


PER CURIAM

Affirmed.


Plaintiff employe appeals from a summary judgment for defendant employer in this breach of contract action arising out of plaintiff's firing. The parties dispute whether defendant's personnel policies and related documents constitute an implied contract that imposes procedural or substantive limitations on defendant's ability to discharge employes such as plaintiff. They also disagree about whether the evidence compelled the conclusion that plaintiff was afforded all rights which might have been contractually due him.

We need reach only the second question. Plaintiff argues that he was denied two procedural rights that he maintains defendant's policies required. Assuming that they were requirements, defendant's uncontroverted evidence demonstrates that procedures which satisfied the requirements were followed. Plaintiff also appears to contend that there is a factual question as to whether he was guilty of misconduct of a "willful or serious" nature, which, under his understanding of defendant's policies, was a prerequisite to his termination. However, under the personnel documents on which plaintiff relies, application of the term "willful or serious" and the sanction for plaintiff's conduct were solely defendant's decisions to make. See Simpson v. Western Graphics, 293 Or. 96, 643 P.2d 1276 (1982); compare Fleming v. Kids and Kin Headstart, 71 Or. App. 718,693 P.2d 1363 (1985). Summary judgment was properly granted.

Affirmed.


Summaries of

GARDNER v. PGE

Oregon Court of Appeals
May 2, 1989
767 P.2d 497 (Or. Ct. App. 1989)
Case details for

GARDNER v. PGE

Case Details

Full title:GARDNER, Appellant, v. PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Respondent

Court:Oregon Court of Appeals

Date published: May 2, 1989

Citations

767 P.2d 497 (Or. Ct. App. 1989)
767 P.2d 497

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