Potter v. Barton

90 N.W. 529, 86 Minn. 288, 1902 Minn. LEXIS 503

• Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
• Decided: May 23, 1902
• Docket: Nos. 13,013-(109)
• Status: Published

Opinion

COLLINS, J.

At the trial below there was an abundance of testimony to sustain the jury in finding, as they did, that, while permitted to work, plaintiff substantially complied with the terms of his contract, and that he was a competent workman. These questions, framed by the pleadings, were for the jury, and the court properly submitted them in its charge. Evidently counsel for defendant so thought at the time, for there was no suggestion that the charge was not complete and correct in all respects. Where a contract for work and labor has been substantially performed as to time, and in its most material parts, an employer has no right to dismiss an employee and to refuse to carry out a contract previously made for a term not yet expired. Shaver v. Ingham, 58 Mich. 649, 26 N. W. 162; Park Bros. & Co. v. Bushnell, 9 C. C. A. 138, 60 Fed. 583.

The doctrine of the sufficiency of a substantial performance of an ordinary contract has repeatedly been recognized in this court, although no cause has been presented in which the rights of employee and employer have been at issue. Substantial compliance with the terms of a contract is all that is required, and ordinarily this question is for the jury. It follows that employers assuming to be final arbiters in their own behalf of the propriety of dismissing their employees during their terms of employment take the responsibility which attaches to a dismissal without cause. Stansell v. Leavitt, 51 Mich. 536, 16 N. W. 892.

The dismissal in issue here was found by the jury, under proper instructions from the court, to be capricious and without justification. As before stated, there was evidence upon, which to base the verdict, and we cannot disturb it, even if the preponderance of proof was the other way, as counsel insists.

Order affirmed.