Taghivand v. Rite Aid Corp.

This certified question from the federal district court asks us to delineate the parameters of the public policy exception to the doctrine of at-will employment. Specifically, this question requires us to consider whether the public policy exception is broad enough to permit a cause of action in tort for employees who are terminated for reporting a suspected crime, in this case, shoplifting. We hold it does not.

FACTUAL/PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The facts are drawn from the district court’s certification order. Behrooz Taghivand was the manager of a Rite Aid store in a high crime area of North…