Stewart v. Chevron Chemical Co.

Callow, J. —

Chevron Chemical Company appeals from a judgment entered on a jury verdict in a wrongful discharge action brought by an employee, John Stewart. The jury determined that Chevron had breached an employment contract with Stewart by failing to abide by a layoff provision in its policy manual. We hold the layoff policy was not a term of Stewart's contract and reverse.

Stewart began employment with Chevron Chemical Company in 1954 pursuant to an oral agreement for an indefinite term. From 1959 until his termination he worked as a shift supervisor in Chevron's fertilizer production plant…