Griffin v. Greene County Hosp. Auth.

Evidence that the plaintiff opened her own practice three months after the termination of her employment contract supported the jury's verdict for only a portion of her guaranteed net income payment under the contract.

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Janet L. Griffin filed suit against Greene County Hospital Authority, d/b/a Minnie Boswell Memorial Hospital, asserting that the hospital authority had unlawfully terminated her written employment contract. The matter proceeded to trial, and the jury returned a verdict in favor of Griffin in the amount of $47,800.00. She now appeals following the trial court’s denial of her motion for new trial. 1. Griffin asserts that she is entitled to a new trial because the amount of the jury’s verdict is not supported by the evidence at trial. Griffin entered into a written employment contract with the hospital authority for a term of three years, beginning May 1, 1999. Under the terms of the contract, Griffin was entitled to a guaranteed net income payment of $160,000.00 during the first 12 months of her employment. The hospital authority made only one monthly payment of $13,333.00 to Griffin on May 3, 1999. And by letter dated June 1, 1999, the hospital authority notified Griffin that it had elected to terminate the contract. At trial, the hospital authority contended that the termination was proper because it had not authorized the contract and because Griffin’s practice was not in operation in Greensboro, Georgia on May 1 as required by the contract.

Griffin asserts that by awarding her some money, the jury must have found that there was a valid contract, and she contends, therefore, that she is entitled to a verdict in a minimum amount of $146,667.00, which is the balance owing on her guaranteed salary. In support of her argument, she notes that the hospital authority presented no evidence of any alternative damage figure but primarily asserted that there was no valid contract.1

Griffin v. Greene County Hosp. Auth.

Evidence that the plaintiff opened her own practice three months after the termination of her employment contract supported the jury's verdict for only a portion of her guaranteed net income payment under the contract.

Share with Email

Thank you for sharing!

Trending Stories

More From ALM

Subscribe to Daily Report