Gosvener

Appellant Richard Gosvener brought this action for wrongful discharge against his former employer, respondent Pacific Refining Company (Pacific) and its parent company, Coastal Corporation (Coastal). Appellant contended he was illegally discharged due to his alcohol abuse problem, and that Pacific failed to provide reasonable accommodation for his alcohol problem in violation of California laws and public policy barring discrimination against alcoholics. The trial court granted summary judgment against appellant’s claims. We affirm, because there were no material facts in dispute, and the record demonstrates appellant was properly discharged from his job supervising a chemical refinery after his employer made numerous unsuccessful efforts to accommodate appellant’s need for alcoholism treatment, but appellant continued to abuse alcohol.

I. Facts and Procedural History

The relevant facts are not in dispute. Appellant was hired by Wycon Chemical Company (Wycon), a subsidiary of respondent Coastal, in 1973. In 1976, he began working at a refinery in Hercules, California, which was operated by respondent Pacific, another subsidiary of Coastal. Appellant became a shift…