Bajalo v. Northwestern University

Plaintiff, Nedeljka Bajalo, brought an action for retaliatory-discharge against defendant, Northwestern University, predicated upon defendant’s failure to renew her employment contract. Defendant moved for judgment on the pleadings on the ground that plaintiff failed to state a cause of action because Illinois law does not recognize a claim for retaliatory discharge based upon the failure to renew an expired employment contract. The circuit court denied defendant’s motion on the pleadings, and certified the following question for interlocutory appeal (155 Ill. 2d R. 308): “May a contract…