Grappone v. City of Miami Beach, 86-716
| Decision Date | 07 October 1986 |
| Docket Number | No. 86-716,86-716 |
| Citation | 11 Fla. L. Weekly 2121,495 So.2d 838 |
| Parties | 1 IER Cases 1135, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 2121 Ellen GRAPPONE, Appellant, v. CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, Appellee. |
| Court | Florida District Court of Appeals |
Nevel & Lowy, Ronald Lowy, Miami, for appellant.
Arnold M. Weiner, City Atty., City of Miami Beach, Sandra W. Schneider, Asst. City Atty., for appellee.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and HUBBART and JORGENSON, JJ.
This is an appeal by Ellen Grappone from an order of the trial court dismissing her breach of contract claim against the City of Miami Beach for failure to state a cause of action. For the reasons which follow, we reverse.
Grappone and the City of Miami Beach entered into a written employment contract which provided that she would serve as a temporary marketing secretary for a period commencing April 8, 1985, and ending upon the return of the regular secretary who was on a six-month maternity leave. The maternity leave was scheduled to end on October 8, 1985, although on September 9, 1985, it was subsequently extended for an additional six months until April 8, 1986. On October 4, 1985, the City abolished the position of marketing secretary. That same day, as a consequence of the abolition of this position, Grappone, the substitute secretary, was fired. Grappone filed an action for breach of contract, and the City moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a cause of action. The trial court granted the City's motion and dismissed the cause with prejudice.
When a contract does not provide for a definite term of employment, the contract is terminable at will. Maines v. Davis, 491 So.2d 1233 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). Without a definite term of employment, a breach of contract action cannot be maintained. Smith v. Piezo Technology & Professional Administrators, 427 So.2d 182, 184 (Fla.1983). The trial court, in its order, specifically found In reaching its conclusion the trial court relied upon Maguire v. American Life Assurance Co., 442 So.2d 321 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983), rev. denied, 451 So.2d 849 (Fla.1984).
In Maguire, the employee did not have a contract for a specific term of employment. On appeal, the City contends that Grappone's contract also did not provide...
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