Wright v. Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children

Wright (plaintiff), an at-will hospital employee with excellent evaluations, told a hospital survey team — sent after another nurse's complaint letter — that communication problems existed between medical and nursing staff, giving specific examples; the hospital administrator, suspecting Wright had prompted the original complaint letter, terminated her afterward. Wright sued for wrongful termination in violation of public policy, relying in part on a nursing board regulation requiring nurses to collaborate and communicate with other providers to ensure patient care quality; a jury awarded her $100,000.

Whether a public-policy exception exists for an at-will employee who was terminated after providing criticism of internal personnel problems.