Taylor v. Greenway Restaurant, Inc.

Decision Date17 August 1961
Docket NumberNo. 2771.,2771.
Citation173 A.2d 211
PartiesGrant TAYLOR, Appellant, v. GREENWAY RESTAURANT, INC., Appellee.
CourtD.C. Court of Appeals

Milton Conn, for appellant.

Lee W. Cowan, Washington, D. C., for appellee.

Before HOOD and QUINN, Associate Judges, and CAYTON (Chief Judge, Retired) sitting by designation under Code § 11-776(b).

HOOD, Associate Judge.

Appellant Taylor was employed by appellee Greenway Restaurant as bartender and night manager at a salary of $100 a week. After working for several weeks he was discharged and paid in full for the time he worked. He then brought this action for $100 as "salary due in lieu of one week's notice of discharge." From an adverse judgment he appeals.

Appellant's theory appears to be that because he was hired at a weekly wage, he could not be legally discharged without a week's notice and that in the absence of such notice he was entitled to an additional week's salary. Appellant's employment was for no definite period and was subject to termination at the will of either party. Pfeffer v. Ernst, D.C.Mun.App., 82 A.2d 763. Except when specifically so provided by agreement or by statute, neither employer nor employee is entitled to notice of termination. Furthermore, the trial court found that Taylor's employment was conditioned upon his services proving to be satisfactory and that they proved to be unsatisfactory. We see no basis for disturbing the judgment.

Affirmed.

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23 cases
  • Carl v. Children's Hosp., 93-CV-1476.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Columbia District
    • September 23, 1997
    ...supra, 597 A.2d at 30 (citing cases);1 see, e.g., Thigpen v. Greenpeace, Inc., 657 A.2d 770, 771 (D.C.1995); Taylor v. Greenway Restaurant, Inc., 173 A.2d 211, 211 (D.C.Mun.1961); Pfeffer v. Ernst, 82 A.2d 763, 764 (D.C.Mun.1951). In Adams we reiterated our commitment to this principle, but......
  • Riggs v. Home Builders Institute
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Columbia
    • March 18, 2002
    ...& Co., 597 A.2d 28, 30 (D.C.1991) (citing Wemhoff v. Investors Mgmt. Corp., 528 A.2d 1205, 1208 n. 3 (D.C.1987); Taylor v. Greenway Restaurant, Inc., 173 A.2d 211 (D.C.1961); Pfeffer v. Ernst, 82 A.2d 763, 764 (D.C.1951)). In Adams, however, the D.C. Court of Appeals recognized an intention......
  • Daisley v. Riggs Bank, N.A.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Columbia
    • May 31, 2005
    ...any reason or no reason at all." Wemhoff v. Investors Mgmt. Corp., 528 A.2d 1205, 1208 n. 3 (D.C.1987) (citing Taylor v. Greenway Rest., Inc., 173 A.2d 211 (D.C.Mun.App.1961)). At-will employment should not be viewed as the absence of contract, but as a "species of contract," a principle "w......
  • CARL v. CHILDREN'S HOSP.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Columbia District
    • April 10, 1995
    ...for no reason at all. See Wemhoff v. Investors Management Corp. of Am., 528 A.2d 1205, 1208 n. 3 (D.C. 1987); Taylor v. Greenway Restaurant, Inc., 173 A.2d 211, 211 (D.C. 1961). In Adams, supra, this court reiterated its commitment to this principle, but created a very narrow exception [it ......
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