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Elliott v. Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jun 20, 1967
116 Ga. App. 36 (Ga. Ct. App. 1967)

Opinion

42762.

ARGUED MAY 4, 1967.

DECIDED JUNE 20, 1967.

Action on employment contract. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge Wood, Emeritus.

Preston L. Holland, for appellant.

Powell, Goldstein, Frazer Murphy, Edward E. Dorsey, John A. Helms, for appellees.


Where no terms of a contract of employment are set out the petition must be construed as alleging that the plaintiff was working under a contract terminable at the will of the employer. Ott v. Gandy, 66 Ga. App. 684, 687 ( 19 S.E.2d 180). An indefinite hiring may be terminated at will by either party. Code § 66-101. A rule of the employer that an employee will be discharged if his wages are garnished by a creditor does not alter the situation. Snyder v. Savannah Union Station Co., 85 Ga. App. 851 ( 70 S.E.2d 382). While, under Code § 105-1207 one who wrongfully procures the discharge even of an employee at will may be liable for damages if he acts maliciously and without cause, this petition specifically alleges that the two officers of defendant Delta Air Lines, Inc. who discharged the plaintiff were sued only in their capacity as such, and no relief was sought against them individually. This adds nothing to the petition against the employer, who may discharge the employee with or without cause and regardless of its motives. Smith v. Chicopee Mfg. Corp., 56 Ga. App. 294 ( 192 S.E. 481).

Indubitably, the trial court properly sustained the general demurrer.

Judgment affirmed. Jordan, P. J., and Quillian, J., concur.

ARGUED MAY 4, 1967 — DECIDED JUNE 20, 1967.


Summaries of

Elliott v. Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jun 20, 1967
116 Ga. App. 36 (Ga. Ct. App. 1967)
Case details for

Elliott v. Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Case Details

Full title:ELLIOTT v. DELTA AIR LINES, INC. et al

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Jun 20, 1967

Citations

116 Ga. App. 36 (Ga. Ct. App. 1967)
156 S.E.2d 656

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