Blinn v. Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, Inc.

At-will hospital employee Blinn (plaintiff), age 67, told administrators at Beatrice Community Hospital (defendant) about a competing job offer he could keep until retirement, seeking reassurance about his job security. Beatrice's administrator told him he was doing good work and they had "at least five more years of work to do," and the board chairman said he wanted Blinn to stay. Blinn turned down the other job and stayed, but was asked to resign a few months later and was terminated. Blinn sued for breach of an oral contract modifying his at-will status and for promissory estoppel; the trial court granted Beatrice summary judgment on both claims, the court of appeals reversed on both, and Beatrice sought Nebraska Supreme Court review.