Valenzuela

BACKGROUND

On August 28, 2017, plaintiff and appellant Celina Valenzuela (plaintiff) sued her employer, Dignity Health, alleging several causes of action, including employment- related discrimination and breach of implied contract. On February 22, 2019, plaintiff filed another complaint alleging, among other things, that Dignity Health had retaliated against her due to the 2017 lawsuit. The two cases were eventually consolidated. The case proceeded to trial. After plaintiff’s presentation of evidence, Dignity Health moved for nonsuit as to plaintiff’s various causes of action. The court granted nonsuit as to all causes of action except one for breach of implied contract and one for breach of the implied covenant of fair dealing. After Dignity Health presented its evidence on those two claims, the jury returned special verdicts favorable to the defense. Plaintiff appeals.

FACTS

Plaintiff was hired by San Dimas Medical Group on June 1, 1992, to work at Mercy Southwest Hospital in June 1992. Eventually, San Dimas Medical Group became Dignity Health. Dignity Health owns and operates healthcare facilities in California, Arizona, and Nevada with over 60,000 employees.1 Plaintiff…