Gaupin v. Murphy

Argued October 3, 1928. Plaintiff sued on a contract of employment, averring a yearly contract and discharge without reasonable cause; while defendant insisted that the employment was at will and the discharge was for cause. A verdict was recovered in the court below and, on this appeal, under the assignment for judgment n. o. v., but one question is submitted: Was the evidence sufficient to establish a contract of hiring for a definite term?

Where no definite period is expressed in a contract of hiring, the law presumes a hiring at will (Weidman v. United Cigar Stores Co., 223 Pa. 160); the…