Cengage Advantage Books: Law for Business 19th Edition by John Ashcroft,Katherine Ashcroft,Martha Patterson

Exercise 1

The City Board (Board) of Decherd, TN, passed a resolution covering employment of police officers that recited that it repealed any other resolution that conflicted with it. It further said, "[D]iscipline shall be for cause and shall follow the basic concepts of due process" and an employee had to be given written notice of "the exact offense violated." The Board fired the police chief, Terry Freeze, at a meeting without giving grounds for his termination other than "the betterment of the city." He had not been given written notice his termination would be considered and it was not on the agenda. He was not given a chance to present witnesses or other evidence and his request for a hearing was denied. He sued the city, alleging the resolution created a contract that changed his employment from at-will and required he could be fired only for good cause. Did it? [ Freeze v. City of Dechert, Tenn. , 753 F.3d 661 (6th Cir.)]