Janis v. AMP Inc.

58 Pa. D. & C.4th 144, 2002 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 208
Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County·Decided April 4, 2002·No. no. 3246 S 1999·Published

Opinions

KLEINFELTER, P.J.,

Before the court is the motion for summary judgment of defendant AMP [146] Incorporated, as well as the motion for summary judgment of plaintiff Michael D. Janis.

This is a case about an employment contract. Janis was an industrial engineer employed by AMP beginning in 1977. In 1992, AMP desired to send certain employees to its facility in Hermosillo, Mexico, to oversee its manufacturing operation located there. In June of 1992, Janis was interviewed for a position, during which, AMP provided him with a “summary of the policy provisions” which applied to his expatriate assignment. In addition, the document referred to a “Performance/incentive bonus plan” illustrated in an attached memorandum. Upon review of these documents, Janis accepted the Hermosillo assignment and signed the “summary of policy provisions” on June 24, 1992.

Upon accepting the assignment to Hermosillo, Janis sold his home in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania as well as his automobile. Janis moved to Mexico in August 1992, and began work at AMP’s Hermosillo facility. He reported to Don Brickner, director of the facility.

Janis’ assignment in Mexico appeared to proceed fairly well during the period between 1992 and 1997. However, in February of 1997, AMP informed Janis that he was no longer eligible to receive a bonus under the “summary of the policy provisions.” According to Janis, he raised no objection to this rescission because he feared that he would lose his position. Janis then continued to work at the Hermosillo plant until April 30,1999, when AMP terminated him.

Procedurally, this matter began with Janis’ complaint, filed on August 4, 1999, which drew preliminary objections from AMP on September 14, 1999. Janis submit[147] ted an amended complaint in response on October 4, 1999. In it, Janis brings three counts: Count I, breach of employment contract; Count II, breach of contract to pay bonuses; and Count III, breach of contract to provide a comparable position in the United States. AMP again filed preliminary objections on October 25,1999, which were resolved by order of this court, following briefing and oral argument, on March 14,2000. Thereafter, AMP filed an answer on April 6, 2000, with new matter alleging unjust enrichment and conversion. Janis replied on April 25, 2000.

The first matter at bar is AMP’s motion for summary judgment, filed August 16, 2001. Janis filed a response on September 17, 2001. Both parties have briefed their respective positions. Second is Janis’ motion for summary judgment, filed November 8, 2001, and accompanied by a supporting brief. AMP has not filed a response to Janis’ motion.1 The parties presented oral argument to [148] a three-judge panel of this court on February 7, 2002. We begin with the well-established standard for resolving motions for summary judgment.

“ [S]ummary judgment is properly granted ‘if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’ ... Summary judgment may be granted only in those cases where the right is clear and free from doubt. . . . The moving party has the burden of proving that there is no genuine issue of material fact.... Moreover, the record and any inferences therefrom must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, and any doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the moving party....” Bigansky v. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 442 Pa. Super. 69, 73-74, 658 A.2d 423, 425 (1995), appeal denied, 542 Pa. 655, 668 A.2d 1119 (1995); see also, Green v. Paul Revere Insurance Group, 121 Dauph. 63 (2001).

Our first issue within AMP’s motion is whether an employment contract existed between AMP and Janis. Janis claims that the “summary of the policy provisions” constitutes an employment contract, while AMP counters that it does not, and fails to counter the “at-will” presumption of employment in Pennsylvania.

“ ‘As a general rule, there is no common-law cause of action against an employer for termination of an at-will employment relationship.’ Luteran [v. Loral Fairchild Corp., 455 Pa. Super. 364,] 688 A.2d [211,] 214 [(1997)] (citation omitted). ‘ “The sine qua non of the presump[149] tion is that except in rare instances, discharge will not be reviewed in a judicial forum.” ’ Id., quoting Scott v. Extracorporeal Inc., 376 Pa. Super. 90, 545 A.2d 334, 336 (1988).

“In order to rebut the presumption of at-will employment, a party must establish one of the following: (1) an agreement for a definite duration; (2) an agreement specifying that the employee will be discharged for just cause only; (3) sufficient additional consideration; or (4) an applicable recognized public policy exception.

“Luteran, 688 A.2d at 214 (citation omitted).” Rapagnani v. Judas Co., 736 A.2d 666, 669 (Pa. Super. 1999).

Janis contends that the presumption of an at-will employment arrangement with AMP is overcome because the “summary of the policy provisions” is an agreement for a definite duration. We agree. The terms of the “summary of the policy provisions” include the following.

“(2) The assignment is expected to last three years but no more than five years. Based on business needs, the employee may be returned to the United States prior to July, 1995 and the company may entertain a personal request to return sooner.” “Summary of the policy provisions” at p. 1.

AMP, the drafter of this agreement, has underscored the terms of duration set forth above, which suggests emphasis on a definite time period of Janis’ assignment. We believe these terms are sufficiently clear to establish that Janis’ assignment at the Hermosillo facility was contemplated by both parties to be between three and five years. Notwithstanding this perceived clarity, any ambi[150] guity must be construed against AMP, the drafter of the agreement. Smith v. Windsor Group, 750 A.2d 304, 308 (Pa. Super. 2000).

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Janis v. AMP Inc., 58 Pa. D. & C.4th 144, 2002 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 208 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2002).

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Related

Scott v. Extracorporeal, Inc.
545 A.2d 334 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1988)
Smith v. Windsor Group
750 A.2d 304 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2000)
Bigansky v. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
658 A.2d 423 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1995)
Rapagnani v. Judas Co.
736 A.2d 666 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1999)
Luteran v. Loral Fairchild Corp.
688 A.2d 211 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1997)
Kapustik v. Arnold City School District
111 A.2d 169 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1955)