Knigge v. B & L Food Stores, Inc.

[¶1.] David Knigge entered into an oral employment contract with his brother, Robert Knigge, to manage a grocery store that was owned by Robert and his wife Lynette. David entered into the contract in part because Robert had cancer and a limited time to live. The contract allegedly included a severance payment to David if Lynette desired to end David’s employment after Robert’s death. Robert died five months after the contract was negotiated, and Lynette terminated David’s employment two months later. When Lynette refused to pay the severance, David sued to enforce the agreement. The circuit…