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Plaintiff Willy, an in-house counsel for Coastal Corporation, was terminated on October 1, 1984, after over three years of employment. He filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination (First Cause of Action), claiming he was fired for requiring the company to comply with environmental laws. He did not report these alleged violations to any federal authority. The Court granted the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the First Cause of Action, ruling that the Texas exception to employment-at-will, established in Hauck, does not extend to attorneys who have professional ethical obligations, including the option to withdraw from employment. Consequently, the Court also dismissed Plaintiff's remaining pendant state law claims, which included breach of ethical duty, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, blacklisting, conspiracy, and intentional interference with business and contracts, due to the dismissal of the federal claim.
Willy v. Coastal Corp. is a workers' compensation case decided in District Court, S.D. Texas. This case addresses legal issues related to compensation claims, benefits, and court rulings.
It is commonly referenced in legal research involving workers' compensation laws in District Court, S.D. Texas.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
Plaintiff Willy, an in-house counsel for Coastal Corporation, was terminated on October 1, 1984, after over three years of employment. He filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination (First Cause of Action), claiming he was fired for requiring the company to comply with environmental laws. He did not report these alleged violations to any federal authority. The Court granted the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the First Cause of Action, ruling that the Texas exception to employment-at-will, established in Hauck, does not extend to attorneys who have professional ethical obligations, including the option to withdraw from employment. Consequently, the Court also dismissed Plaintiff's remaining pendant state law claims, which included breach of ethical duty, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, blacklisting, conspiracy, and intentional interference with business and contracts, due to the dismissal of the federal claim.
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