Austin v. Healthtrust, Inc.-The Hospital Co.

in which PHILLIPS, Chief Justice, HECHT, ENOCH, BAKER, ABBOTT, and HANKINSON, Justices, join.

We have been requested in this case to create a judicial exception to the employment-at-will doctrine by recognizing a cause of action for private whistleblowers. Because the Legislature has been so proactive in promulgating statutes that prohibit retaliation against whistleblowers in many areas of the private sector, we decline to recognize a common-law cause of action. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.

I

This case was decided by summary judgment. The parties included in the…