Louise Cassidy v. Akzo Nobel Salt, Inc.

OPINION

KENNEDY, Circuit Judge.

Plaintiffs-appellants Louise Cassidy, et al., appeal the district court’s summary judgment for defendant, Akzo Nobel Salt, Inc., (“ANSI”), on plaintiffs’ claim that they are contractually entitled to benefits under ANSI’s severance pay plan. Jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship.

ANSI’s termination plan states that regular full time employees who are “released” will receive severance pay. The policy defines “release” as follows:

Release is a permanent separation initiated by the company due to lack of work, an economic reduction in the work force, the…