Anderson

Appellants are three tenured Humboldt State University professors who were laid off after 10 to 22 years of teaching. They filed suit against California State University (CSU), Humboldt State University, the Trustees of the California State University and various individuals (the university defendants) and the California Faculty Association (CFA) (an employee organization that represents a system-wide unit of faculty employees of the California State University), and five individual union representatives (the union defendants).

The basis for the lawsuit against the university defendants is that the layoffs allegedly violated appellants’ employment contract. Appellants have alleged the following causes of action against the university defendants: breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, wrongful termination (against CSU only), fraud, negligent misrepresentation of fact, libel and slander (against the individuals only), intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and conspiracy. Appellants also request an injunction prohibiting their layoffs and for the cause to be arbitrated by the union defendants.

The basis for the…