Russell v. Board of County Commissioners

Ten at-will deputy sheriffs (deputies) (plaintiffs) worked for the Board of County Commissioners for Carter County (Board) (defendant), whose personnel handbook entitled county employees, including law-enforcement personnel, to overtime pay, despite a disclaimer stating the handbook's policies did not form an employment contract. Some other sheriff's-office employees actually received overtime pay under the handbook's policy. The deputies sued for overtime pay, arguing the handbook's overtime policy had become part of their at-will employment contracts; the trial court granted summary judgment to the Board, and the court of civil appeals reversed.