LaDuke v. Ziebart Corp.

Defendant Ziebart Corporation appeals as of right the denial of its motions for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (10), a directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding the verdict (jnov), and a new trial. We reverse.

Plaintiff’s decedent, Michael LaDuke, was a branch operations manager of various Ziebart locations in Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri, including the Westland, Michigan, branch, where individual defendant Robert Zielin worked. In April 1989, Zielin managed the Westland branch and. LaDuke was his immediate supervisor. At a meeting held on Friday, April 21, 1989,…