Daniel v. Magma Copper Co.

OPINION

HOWARD, Judge.

This is an appeal from a judgment entered on a jury verdict which awarded the plaintiffs $150,000 for breach of employment contract and unlawful discharge, $26,-000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress and $500,000 for punitive damages.

At issue is the liability of an employer who terminates an employment-at-will agreement when that employee persists in threatening to file a lawsuit against the employer for a non-job related injury.

Buel Daniel was hired by Magma Copper Company (Magma) in 1952 as a journeyman mechanic. He worked as an hourly employee in the…