Baker v. Burlington Northern, Inc.

DONALDSON, Justice.

The plaintiff-appellant L. B. Baker brought this action against his former employer, the defendant-respondent Burlington Northern, Inc., alleging libel and invasion of privacy. Baker was provisionally hired by Burlington Northern as a track laborer on March 17, 1973. The employment application, which Baker completed and signed on March 13,1973, contained the question: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” Baker answered “no” to this question.

On May 5,1972, Baker had pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree burglary. On that same day, in a document entitled “Order…