Pugh v. See's Candies, Inc.

Pugh (plaintiff) worked his way up from dishwasher to vice president of production over 32 years at See's Candies (defendant), receiving numerous promotions, a commendatory gold watch, and no formal criticism, after an early promise from a former company president that loyalty and hard work would secure his future there; two subsequent presidents were also known to terminate administrative staff only for cause. See's fired Pugh without explanation shortly after his division set sales records, allegedly at the urging of a labor union with which he had friction, and the trial court granted the defendants a nonsuit on his breach-of-contract claim.