Robinson v. Board of Trustees of East Cent. Jr. College, 55089
| Decision Date | 09 October 1985 |
| Docket Number | No. 55089,55089 |
| Citation | 477 So.2d 1352 |
| Parties | 28 Ed. Law Rep. 944 Herman ROBINSON v. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF EAST CENTRAL JUNIOR COLLEGE, et al. |
| Court | Mississippi Supreme Court |
David A. Stephenson, Rick Fortenberry, Sandusky, Bailey, Fortenberry & Stephenson, Meridian, for appellant.
William H. Johnson, Jr., Decatur, Jack Brand, Newton, for appellee.
Before PATTERSON, C.J., and PRATHER and SULLIVAN, JJ.
This is an appeal from the Chancery Court of Newton County which dismissed this action at the close of the plaintiff's proof, upon motion of the defendant. The chancellor found that Herman Robinson (hereinafter Robinson) failed to prove damages resulting from East Central Junior College's failure to give timely notice of nonrenewal of his teaching contract.
On June 15, 1981, Robinson entered into a contract with East Central Junior College for the scholastic year 1981-82. The contract contained two clauses pertinent to this suit:
1. That the employee hereby accepts such employment and obligates himself to perform such duties as are required by law and by the Board of Trustees of the college ... and to perform all duties in a satisfactory manner and in accordance with the policies, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education of the State of Mississippi, and the Board of Trustees of this Junior College District.
6. This contract is contingent upon the continuation of sufficient funding, and/or sufficient student enrollment, and/or the program/subject offering.
At a faculty meeting prior to the 1981-82 school year, the dean of the junior college distributed two publications styled "E.C.J.C. Policies and Procedure Manual" and "E.C.J.C. Faculty Handbook" to all of the faculty members. These publications contained the policies and procedures to be followed by employees of the college. A provision in the publications stated that notification of nonrenewal of a teacher's annual contract would be given the teacher, in writing, on or before March 15, preceding the ensuing contract year.
On March 5, 1982, Robinson was informed by the dean of the college that there would be a delay in issuing all of the contracts for 1982-83 school year because of a funding problem and uncertain appropriations by the Mississippi Legislature.
On April 13, 1982, some 28 days after the notice of nonrenewal deadline, Robinson was advised by the President of the college that his contract would not be renewed for the 1982-83 school year. Robinson requested and was granted a hearing before the full Board of Trustees of the college at which he was represented by legal counsel. The Board of Trustees upheld its earlier decision not to renew his contract.
After receiving notice of the Board's decision Robinson applied for teaching positions at one junior college and at several high schools. He obtained employment from New Hope High School in Lowndes County for a smaller salary than he had previously received from East Central.
On June 16, 1983, this suit was filed in chancery court seeking damages in the amount of the difference Robinson would have received had he continued to teach at East Central Junior College and that which he received in his new position.
The first issue presented in this appeal is whether the provisions in the handbook and manual are part of the contract of employment. We are of the opinion they are.
The one page contract the parties signed specifically refers to the policies, rules, and regulations of the Board of Trustees. Although there is no evidence that the Board...
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Stark v. Univ. of S. Miss.
...outlined in the handbooks.” Whiting v. Univ. of S. Miss., 451 F.3d 339, 345 (5th Cir.2006) (citing Robinson v. Bd. of Trs. of E. Cent. Junior Coll., 477 So.2d 1352, 1353 (Miss.1985) ; Bobbitt v. The Orchard Dev. Co., 603 So.2d 356, 361 (Miss.1992) ). The Fifth Circuit has also determined “t......
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Watkins v. United Parcel Service, Inc.
...548 So.2d 982, 985 (Miss.1989); Perry v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 508 So.2d 1086, 1088 (Miss.1987); Robinson v. Board of Trustees of East Central Junior College, 477 So.2d 1352, 1353 (Miss.1985). No Mississippi court has held that a policy book or manual, standing alone, suffices as an express......
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Gerald v. Univ. of S. Miss.
...outlined in the handbooks." Whiting v. Univ. of S. Miss., 451 F.3d 339, 344 (5th Cir. 2006) (citing Robinson v. Bd. of Trs. of E. Cent. Junior Coll., 477 So. 2d 1352, 1353 (Miss. 1985); Bobbitt v. The Orchard Dev. Co., 603 So. 2d 356, 361 (Miss. 1992)). However, "[it]matters what the handbo......
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Suddith v. University of Southern Miss.
..."breach of contract" argument is a state-law claim ineligible for a qualified immunity defense. Such is the case in Robinson v. Bd. of Trs., 477 So.2d 1352 (Miss.1985), which Suddith cites. In Robinson, the issue was not, as Suddith argues, that qualified immunity failed to preclude relief ......