Rice v. Grant County Board of Commissioners

SHIELDS, Judge.

David B. Rice (Rice) appeals the trial court's grant of summary judgment upholding the Grant County Board of Commissioner's (Grant County) termination of Rice's employment in the county highway department.

Rice raises two issues for review:

1) whether employment at will is an affirmative defense which must be raised in responsive pleadings; and

2) whether Rice's discharge fell within an alleged public policy exception to the employment at will doctrine.

We affirm.

FACTS

In his complaint for wrongful discharge, Rice alleged "[t}hat plaintiff had been employed by the Grant County…