Huegerich v. IBP, Inc.

ANDREASEN, Justice.

Michael A. Huegerich brought an action against his employer, Iowa Beef Processors, Inc. (IBP), for alleged wrongful conduct associated with his discharge. The district court entered judgment in favor of Huegerich for negligent discharge and defamation. Because we do not recognize negligent discharge as an exception to the employment at-will doctrine and find insufficient proof of the publication of defamatory statements, we reverse the district court’s judgment.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

IBP operates a large hog processing plant in Storm Lake, Iowa. At the plant,…