Morgan, Brown & Joy Successfully Defends University Against Employee’s Breach of Contract Claim
Labor and employment law firm Morgan, Brown & Joy has prevailed in Massachusetts Superior Court on behalf of one of its higher education clients, a major research university in Boston, in a breach of contract case. The university was represented by attorneys Gregory A. Manousos and Alexandra Pichette.
The plaintiff, who worked in the university’s Department of Athletics, was terminated for his admitted misuse of university funds by purchasing team merchandise for his personal use and the use of his friends and family. In his lawsuit, the plaintiff claimed that the university’s decision to terminate his employment under these circumstances breached the corrective action policy in the Employee Handbook. The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the lawsuit in its entirety. The Court agreed with the university and concluded that the manual did not constitute a contract between the plaintiff and the university. As a result, the Court dismissed the case in its entirety.
Greg Manousos is a Partner at Morgan, Brown & Joy. He is a litigator and counselor to colleges, universities, independent schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, and retailers. In-house counsel, human resources professionals, and heads of school look to Manousos for experienced, day-to-day employment law advice and for practical and creative ways to maintain compliance with the wide range of employment laws while also achieving institutional and business objectives. He helps clients navigate discrimination and harassment claims, Family and Medical Leave Act claims, denial of tenure claims, wage and hour disputes, and litigation involving non-competition agreements. Manousos also works with colleges, universities, and independent schools in handling sensitive and complex litigation involving students, including misconduct and other academic matters. He has tried more than 15 cases to verdict in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, and before administrative agencies.
Alex Pichette is a litigator who represents employers in labor and employment matters in state and federal court and before administrative agencies, including the EEOC, the NLRB, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Labor, and California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing and Office of the Labor Commissioner. She defends her client’s management teams from allegations of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wage and hour violations, breach of contract, wrongful termination and other employment-related torts. Clients also look to Alex for her daily counsel, and she regularly guides employers in the preparation of employee handbooks and policies, personnel decisions, and compliance with state and federal statutes.
About Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP
Morgan, Brown & Joy is among the largest management-side employment law firms in New England, representing a wide range of Fortune 100 corporations, educational and health care institutions and small businesses across all sectors of the economy. The firm’s attorneys are known for anticipating and finding solutions to the ever-expanding range of employment-related legal issues in order to avoid the time and cost of litigation. When litigation becomes necessary, the firm aggressively defends its clients and has a proven record of success.