Roberts

Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation (Ford) appeals from a judgment for wrongful termination in favor of Carl D. Roberts, respondent. The jury awarded economic and noneconomic damages of $295,224.09 and punitive damages of $750,000. Ford contends that reversal is mandated because: 1) there can be no tort recovery for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; 2) the Supreme Court’s grant of review of a recent appellate decision may indicate that the Fair Employment and Housing Act (Gov. Code, § 12940 et seq.) occupies the field of employment discrimination; 3) compensatory and punitive damages against Ford can be no greater than those assessed against Ford’s employee defendants; and 4) the punitive damages assessed here are unconstitutional.

We granted leave to the Association of California Tort Reform to file an amicus curiae brief in support of Ford’s challenge to the constitutionality of punitive damages. For reasons expressed herein, we reject the challenges raised and affirm the judgment.

Facts

June 6, 1983, Ford fired respondent after seven years of employment at Vandenberg Tracking Station. At the onset, respondent, a Black, received…