Schnitzlein v. Hardee's Food Systems, Inc.

McGEE, Judge.

Defendant Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc., (Hardee’s) hired plaintiff Albert H. Schnitzlein as executive vice president of operations in April 1997. The “officer compensation and benefits summary” provided in writing by Hardee’s to plaintiff included a paragraph with the heading “job security.” The paragraph stated: “Should Hardee’s decide to terminate you for any reason, other than gross misconduct, you will receive twenty-four (24) months of severance pay and executive outplacement services.”

Meanwhile, in early 1997, defendant CKE Restaurants, Inc., (CKE) began negotiating with…