Ward v. Frito-Lay, Inc.

Frito-Lay appeals from a judgment awarding actual and punitive damages to Ward for his allegedly wrongful discharge from employment. Ward’s discharge resulted from his relationship with another Frito-Lay employee. Because we conclude that Ward has failed to prove his cause of action for wrongful dis charge, we reverse the judgment and remand the matter to the trial court with directions to dismiss the complaint.

Ward did not have an employment contract with Frito-Lay and, traditionally, in the absence of a specific contractually set term, an employer could discharge an employee at any time and…