Koehrer

The trial court granted defendants’ motion for summary adjudication of issues effectively disposing of plaintiffs’ causes of action for tortious termination of employment and “bad faith” termination of employment. The court dismissed those causes of action and, in addition, dismissed the entire action as to all but one of the named defendants.

Plaintiffs petitioned this court for a writ of mandate contending defendants’ declaration in support of the motion for summary adjudication of the issues was insufficient to establish there were no triable issues of material fact with respect to the causes of action for tortious termination, “bad faith” termination or the other causes of action as to the dismissed defendants. Plaintiffs also contend defendants’ motion was in reality a motion for judgment on the pleadings, and that facts sufficient to constitute causes of action against all defendants were properly pled. In the alternative plaintiffs contend they should have at least been afforded an opportunity to amend their complaint.

This court issued an alternative writ of mandate and the matter is now before us for decision.

Factual Background

Norman D. Ward and Bunnie…