Farnum v. Brattleboro Retreat, Inc.

Defendant Brattleboro Retreat, Inc. appeals a jury verdict awarding plaintiff Richard Farnum, Jr. damages for wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and quantum meruit. The Retreat argues that (1) as a matter of law, the Retreat’s employee handbooks did not create an implied employment contract obliging the Retreat either to follow certain progressive disciplinary steps or to fire plaintiff only for serious misconduct; (2) the court erred in permitting the jury to substitute its judgment for that of the Retreat as to whether plaintiff had committed serious…