Wrongful Termination “Tameny” Claim.

An employee of a private university reported numerous instances of misconduct committed by her immediate supervisor and was fired. In her action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy, the university argued the illegal conduct the employee reported involved an injury only to the pecuniary interests of the university, and not to the public at large. The trial court granted the university’s demurrer without leave to amend. Noting the complaint adequately pleads the fired employee had a reasonable basis to suspect commercial bribery and disclosed her reasonable suspicions to the university, the appellate court reversed. The court stated: “ We conclude that the complaint does state a cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy on a very narrow basis.” (Ferrick v. Santa Clara University (Cal. App. Sixth Dist; December 1, 2014) 231 Cal.App.4th 1337 [181 Cal.Rptr.3d 68].)