Lewis v. International Business MacHines Corp.

OPINION

BURNS, Judge:

On the surface, this is a garden-variety diversity case involving a claim by the Plaintiff for general and punitive damages for breach of an employment contract. However, beneath the surface, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment presents a collateral estoppel question of substantial importance. As a result, after the parties themselves had thoroughly briefed the collateral estoppel question, I invited several amicus briefs.

Plaintiff Lewis was employed by Defendant International Business Machines (IBM) as a salesman for several years, until he terminated his employment…