Right To Retreat Back To Nonmanagerial Position After Being Fired From Managerial Position.

After working for a state university for more than 20 years in a nonmanagerial position, plaintiff was hired as a manager. Things did not work out, and she was fired. She brought an action against the university. Prior to trial, the trial court granted defendant’s summary adjudication of issues on plaintiff’s contention she had a right to retreat back to her nonmanagerial position. The remainder of her claims went to a jury trial and defendant prevailed. The present appeal largely involves her claim that she was improperly denied her retreat rights. The appellate court agreed with plaintiff, finding the university “had an obligation to provide retreat rights to her” when she was terminated from the management position. The matter was remanded to give plaintiff an opportunity to have her claim of a right to retreat heard on the merits. (Butts v. Bd. Of Trustees California State University (Cal. App. Second Dist., Div. 8; April 23, 2014)225 Cal.App.4th 825, [170 Cal.Rptr.3d 604].)