Jespersen v. Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.

It has long been recognized that contracts of indefinite duration are generally terminable at the will of the parties.1 This case involves a twist on that general rule: where the parties specifically provide that their contract may be terminated for enumerated instances of material breach, is the contract indefinite as to duration and terminable at will, or is it terminable only for cause? The courts below held that such a contract is terminable at will. We affirm.2

This case is before the court on review from an order granting a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs complaint for failure to state…