A Promise Is A Promise For A Job With A State Agency.

Plaintiff responded to a public announcement for a job with a state agency. He was offered the job and accepted, but the Friday night before he was told to report, he was notified the position had been eliminated. He brought an action for damages to recover the expenses he incurred, and the trial court granted the State’s demurrer. The appellate court reversed with regard to plaintiff’s cause of action under Government Code section 19257 which states: “Any person acting in good faith in accepting an appointment or employment contrary to this part or the rules prescribed hereunder, shall be paid by the appointing power the compensation promised by or on behalf of the appointing power or, in case no compensation is so promised, then, the actual value of any service rendered and the expense incurred in good faith under such attempted appointment or employment, and has a cause of action against the appointing power therefor.” (Piccinini v. California Emergency Management Agency (Cal. App. First, Div. 3; May 27, 2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 685, [172 Cal.Rptr.3d 315].)