Assignment Task: Bonnie Knight worked at Ken's Super Valu, Inc., which is owned by Ken Walker and located in the same town where Bonnie's husband is a police officer. Bonnie's husband arrested Ken's spouse for drunk driving after she failed a breathalyzer test. Shortly thereafter, Ken fired Bonnie. She alleged that she had been fired in retaliation for her husband's participation in the arrest of Ken's spouse.
Bonnie was an employee at will. Bonnie was paid all her benefits through her last date of employment.
She sued for wrongful discharge and invoked the public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine.
Does the public policy exception apply to terminations in retaliation for conduct that occurs outside of the employment relationship? Why or why not?
Did Ken act ethically?
Even if the public policy exception does not apply, are Ken's management skills legally astute?