Question: The Orleans Parish School Board employed Mary Ellen Carter as a Secretary I. Later Carter performed the responsibilities of an Executive Secretary, then an Administrative Assistant and finally a Software Resources Coordinator without a change in title or increase in pay. She was continuously assured by her supervisors that her position and pay grade would be reclassified and she would be paid retroactively for her greater duties.
The request was submitted to the budget committee. For five years, she performed the duties and responsibilities of higher levels than her pay grade. When she was not compensated for the higher level duties, she sued the school board. Did Carter demonstrate a case of promissory estoppel?