Leduc

INTRODUCTION

Appellant Lananh Leduc, who is representing herself on appeal, misunderstands the role of an appellate court. Having lost her wrongful termination lawsuit against her employer, respondent West Anaheim Medical Center, after 14 days of trial, she seeks to retry the case here. Most of her appeal expresses her disagreement with the trial court’s findings of fact and with the conclusions it drew from the evidence. But because substantial evidence supports the judgment, we must affirm it. Leduc also appeals from the trial court’s refusal to allow her to amend her complaint to conform to proof at trial, to assert a claim for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. We conclude the trial court ruled correctly, and we affirm the denial of the motion for leave to amend.

FACTS

Leduc worked for West Anaheim for 22 years, rising to the level of clinical laboratory scientist III. She oversaw certain aspects of the operation of the hospital’s blood bank, which had to be staffed around the clock. She routinely received excellent reviews for her work. In August 2008, West Anaheim instituted a new procedure for employee access to the hospital and for time keeping.…