Loya v. Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole, Inc.

2004 WY 123, 99 P.3d 972, 21 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1800, 2004 Wyo. LEXIS 158, 2004 WL 2402491
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 28, 2004
DocketNo. 04-11
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 2004 WY 123 (Loya v. Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Loya v. Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole, Inc., 2004 WY 123, 99 P.3d 972, 21 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1800, 2004 Wyo. LEXIS 158, 2004 WL 2402491 (Wyo. 2004).

Opinion

KITE, Justice.

[T1] Richard Loya sued his employer, Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole, Inc. (Wyoming Partners), and Gary Schuler and Elizabeth Schuler (Schuler), for breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and promissory estoppel. The parties stipulated to the dismissal of Elizabeth Schuler. Following the trial, the jury returned a special verdict finding Wyoming Partners breached its employment contract with Mr. Loya, and he was damaged in the amount of $18,415. The jury made no findings regarding Mr. Schuler's lability for the claims against him individually. The district court entered a judgment against Wyoming Partners for the compensatory damages, and in favor of Mr. Schuler on the claims against him individually. On appeal, Mr. Loya claims the district court erred by granting a judgment in favor of Mr. Schuler. We affirm.

ISSUES

[12] The issue presented on appeal is whether the judgment entered by the district court is consistent with the jury verdict form.

FACTS

[T3] This case first came before this Court in Loya v. Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole, Inc., 2001 WY 124, 35 P.3d 1246 (Wyo.2001) and the pertinent facts are set forth in that opinion. Essentially, Mr. Loya contended Wyoming Partners and Mr. Schu-ler had breached his contract of employment, which consisted of both written and oral agreements, by discharging him before the end of his first year. In Mr. Loya's complaint, he alleged wrongful discharge and breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and application of the doctrine of promissory estoppel.1 The district court granted summary judgment in favor of Wyoming Partners and Mr. Schuler. On appeal, this Court reversed the district court's order granting summary judgment holding that genuine issues of material fact existed on all claims and the case was remanded to the district court for trial

[T4] After a five-day trial, the jury found Wyoming Partners breached its employment

[974]*974contract with Mr. Loya and assessed compensatory damages in the amount of $18,415. The questions in this case stem from the manner in which the special verdiet form was constructed. The interrogatories presented to the jury and its answers read as follows:

1. Do you find that Defendant Gary Schuler was acting in his capacity as an officer of Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole, a Wyoming corporation, in hiring Mr. Loya and handling Mr. Loya's separation from the company?
X Yes No
2. Do you find that Plaintiff was an "at will" employee of Defendant Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole?
Yes X No
3. Do you find that there was an express contract to employ Mr. Loya for one year as Manager of Jackson Sign Company?
Yes X No
4. Do you find that Plaintiff misrepresented his experience, skills and/or his qualifications for the job of Manager of Jackson Sign Company?
Yes X No
5. Do you find that Plaintiff was terminated for cause?
Yes X No
If you answered "yes" to questions 2 or 5 STOP your deliberation and DO NOT answer any more questions. If you answered "no" to both of those questions, please continue and answer all of the following questions.
6. Do you find that Defendant Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole breached an Employment Cont[rJact with Plaintiff?
X Yes No
7. If you answered "yes" to question 6, in what amount, if any, do you assess compensatory damages to Mr. Loya for breach of the Employment Contract?
$ 18,415.00
8. If you answered "yes" to question 6, do you find that Plaintiff had a "special relationship" of trust and reliance, as the Court has defined that term, with Defendant Wyoming Partners that created a covenant of good faith and fair dealing?
Yes X No
9. If you answered "yes" to question 8, do you find that any action of Defendant Wyoming Partners breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing? (not answered)
Yes No
10. If you answered "yes" to question 9, in what amount, if any, do you assess compensatory damages to Mr. Loya for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing? (not answered)
$
11. If your answer to question 1 is "no" and your answer to question 6 is "yes", do you find that Gary Schuler had personal responsibility for the breach of the employment contract? (not answered)
Yes No
12. If you answered "yes" to question 11, in what amount, if any, do you assess compensatory damages to Plaintiff for Mr. Schuler's breach of contract? (not answered)
$
13. If you answered "yes" to question 11, do you find that Plaintiff had a "special relationship" of trust and reliance, as the Court has defined that term, with Defendant Gary Schuler that created a covenant of good faith and fair dealing? (not answered)
Yes No
14. If you answered "yes" to question 13, do you find that any action of Gary Schuler breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing? (not answered)
Yes No
15. If you answered "yes" to question 14, in what amount, if any, do you assess compensatory damages to Mr. Loya for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing? (not answered)
$ _____
[975]*97516. If you answered "yes" to question 6, do you find that Defendant Wyoming Partners of Jackson Hole engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct and intentionally or recklessly caused Plaintiff severe emotional distress?
Yes X No
17. If you answered "yes" to question 16, in what amount, if any, do you assess compensatory damages to Plaintiff for the intentional infliction of emotional distress by Defendant Wyoming Partners? (not answered)
$
18. Do you find that Plaintiff has proved his claim for punitive damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress against Defendant Wyoming Partners?
Yes X No
19. If you answered "no" to question 1, do you find that Defendant Gary Schuler engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct and intentionally or recklessly caused Plaintiff severe emotional distress? (not answered)
Yes No
20. If you answered "yes" to question 19, in what amount, if any, do you assess compensatory damages to Plaintiff for the intentional infliction of emotional distress by Defendant Gary Schuler? (not answered)
$ _____

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2004 WY 123, 99 P.3d 972, 21 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1800, 2004 Wyo. LEXIS 158, 2004 WL 2402491, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/loya-v-wyoming-partners-of-jackson-hole-inc-wyo-2004.