Cotton v. Manning

[¶ 3.] MILLER, Chief Justice (on reassignment),

who would affirm the trial court on all issues, writes the majority opinion on Issue 1, which holds the trial court properly granted summary judgment dismissing an associate attorney’s claims against her employer for post-termination compensation.

FACTS

[¶ 4.] In December 1994 Nancy Manning hired Rose Cotton to work as an associate in Manning’s law office in Rapid City, South Dakota. On January 3, 1995, both parties signed a one-year employment contract, which was to be renewed automatically unless thirty days’ notice was given to the other party.…