City of Odessa v. Barton

The trial court rendered a $150,000 judgment on a jury verdict against the City of Odessa for breach of an employment contract, and the court of appeals affirmed the judgment. 939 S.W.2d 707. The issue we decide is whether a City employee may sue the City for breach of contract damages when an employment manual, conferring “just-cause” status, limits the employee to administrative review of adverse employment decisions. Because the City limited its employees to administrative review and the plaintiff, William Barton, agreed to be bound by that limitation, we conclude that Barton cannot sue…