Lee v. TRW Inc.

*11 MEMORANDUM **

Edward Y.S. Lee appeals the district court’s summary judgment in favor of TRW Inc. (“TRW”) in Lee’s diversity action arising from TRW’s demotion and termination of Lee’s employment as an engineer. In essence, Lee raises three issues: (1) whether the district court properly granted summary judgment in favor of TRW on Lee’s claim of age discrimination related to his layoff; (2) whether the district court properly granted summary judgment in favor of TRW on Lee’s claim of age discrimination related to his reclassification; and (3) whether the district court properly granted summary judgment in favor of TRW on Lee’s cause of action for breach of implied contract not to terminate without good cause. 1 We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 , and we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for proceedings not inconsistent with our decision.

To begin, it is clear that Lee entered into an at-will contract with TRW. This contract precludes the existence of an implied contract requiring good cause for termination. See Guz v. Bechtel Nat’l, Inc., 24 Cal.4th 317 , 340 n. 10, 100 Cal.Rptr.2d 352 , 8 P.3d 1089 (Cal.2000) (“[M]ost cases applying California law ...…