Sides v. Duke University North Carolina Supreme Court prepared by Raleigh attorney M. Travis Payne
www.edelsteinpayne.com Sides v. Duke University Prior to this case, there was no recognized and established cause of action for a worker to sue a former employer for firing her in violation of public policy. Ms. Sides was allegedly fired for failing to either withhold testimony or testify untruthfully in a wrongful death case against Duke University Medical Center. Firm partner Travis Payne was the trial-level attorney in the case. The North Carolina Supreme Court declined to review the Appellate Court's decision, effectively affirming the decision's value as legal precedent. Here is the court's opinion: Does the complaint which alleges that plaintiff was discharged from her job at Duke University Medical Center in retaliation for her refusal to withhold testimony or testify untruthfully in a lawsuit against some of the defendants state a claim for relief against any of the defendants? That is the only question presented by this appeal. Plaintiff conte...