Rulon-Miller v. IBM Corp.

Brief Fact Summary.

Rulon-Miller sued IBM Corp. (IBM) after being terminated for dating an employee of an IBM competitor.

Synopsis of Rule of Law.

A discharge of an employee is wrongful if the discharge violates the employer’s rules and regulations.

Facts.

Rulon-Miller worked for IBM, Corp. (IBM) and her boyfriend, Blum, worked for an IBM competitor. After receiving a raise, Rulon-Miller’s manager inquired about her relationship. Rulon-Miller asserted her right to privacy based on IBM’s employment policies, although an IBM memorandum stated that they were only concerned with an employee’s behavior outside of the job if it interfered with the employee’s ability to perform the job or affected the reputation of the company. Rulon-Miller sued IBM Corp. (IBM) after being terminated for dating an employee of an IBM competitor. The trial court granted judgment to Rulon-Miller.

Issue.

Whether a discharge of an employee is wrongful if the discharge violates the employer’s rules and regulations?

Held.

Yes. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Rulon-Miller’s relationship did not pose a conflict of interest because Rulon-Miller did not have access to sensitive information as a low-level manager. IBM had no right to inquire about Rulon-Miller’s relationship with Blum.

Discussion.

A discharge of an employee is wrongful if the discharge violates the employer’s rules and regulations.