Eckles v. Sharman

Sharman (defendant) signed a seven-year coaching contract with a basketball team that included an undefined future option to buy an ownership interest and an undefined pension plan, along with a severability clause. After the team relocated and was later sold to Mountain States (whose interest passed to trustee Eckles, plaintiff), months of negotiation over the option and pension terms failed, and Sharman left to coach for a rival, California Sports; Mountain States sued for breach and inducement of breach, and the trial court directed a verdict against Sharman on liability.