Contact the experienced employment law attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. today at (203) 221-3100 or JMaya@Mayalaw.com. 

In the case of Dinegar v. University of New Haven, two faculty members brought an action against a university, its president, a provost, and a dean, claiming that the faculty performance evaluation procedures were faulty and that they had been injured. The members each sought to recover under theories of breach of contract, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, age discrimination, and sex discrimination. The university filed motions for summary judgment.

The university and administrators claimed that they were entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. The court granted the university’s motion with respect to breach of contract claims because the members did not invoke, much less exhaust, the procedures set forth in the faculty constitution, which served as the contract between the university and its faculty. The court denied summary judgment with respect to the university’s statute of limitations defense on the claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress because there were disputed issues of fact regarding the date on which the period began to run. Summary judgment was also inappropriate on the basis of the exclusivity of the remedies available under the Workers' Compensation Act as to the negligent and intentional infliction of emotional intent counts. Finally, the court granted the university’s motion with respect to the age and sex discrimination claims because the members failed to exhaust administrative remedies within the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). The members were at least required to make a good faith effort to resolve the discrimination claims through CHRO before turning to the courts.

The court granted summary judgment in favor of the university on the breach of contract and age and sex discrimination claims, but denied summary judgment on the negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims.

If you feel you have been mistreated by your employer or in your place of employment and would like to explore your employment law options, contact the experienced employment law attorneys today at 203-221-3100, or by email at JMaya@mayalaw.com. We have the experience and knowledge you need at this critical juncture. We serve clients in both New York and Connecticut including New Canaan, Bridgeport, White Plains, and Darien.

Source: Dinegar v. University of New Haven, 1997 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2775, 1997 WL 666766 (Conn. Super. Ct. Oct. 16, 1997)