wrongful termination claim (Virginia) · Go Syfert
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wrongful termination claim in Virginia

7 Virginia opinions name it 5 courts 1997–2025 1 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Virginia courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (7)

CaseFollowedCited
Lawrence Chrysler Plymouth Corp. v. Brooksgreen
va · 1996 · cited in 2 Virginia opinions naming this issue, 1997–1998
2 sentences

1998For example, it has been held that a Bowman wrongful termination claim cannot be premised upon federal statutes (see e.g., Lawrence Chrysler Plymouth Corp. v. Brooks, 251 Va. 94 (1996)); a failure to follow State Board of Education regulations (see Noland v. School Bd. of Culpeper County (City of Charlottesville 1994) (Swett, J.)); appearing as a witness in a grievance procedure (see, Miller v. SEVAMP, Inc., 234 Va. 462 (1987)); Virginia Board of Nursing Regulations (see, Andrews v. Bon Secours-St.

1997In Lawrence Chrysler Plymouth Corp. v. Brooks, the Court reversed a plaintiffs jury verdict on a wrongful termination claim because the plaintiff failed to identify any statute which formed the basis of a public policy. 251 Va. 94 (1996).

12
Foltz v. Commonwealthgreen
vactapp · 2011 · cited in 1 Virginia opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025“In this case, as in all others, we seek to decide cases, ‘on the best and narrowest ground available’ from the record.” Foltz v. Commonwealth, 58 Va. App. 107, 114 (2011) (quoting Kirby v. Commonwealth, 50 Va. App. 691 , 698 n.2 (2007)).

11
Bowie v. Murphygreen
va · 2006 · cited in 1 Virginia opinions naming this issue, 2018–2018
2 sentences

2018Compare Bowie , 271 Va. at 135 , 624 S.E.2d at 80 (holding the court had "subject matter jurisdiction over [the plaintiff church deacon's] defamation claims because the claims can be decided without addressing *553 issues of faith and doctrine"), with Cha , 262 Va. at 612 , 553 S.E.2d at 515 (holding the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate a church pastor's wrongful termination claim, which "would have required that the circuit court adjudicate issues regarding the church's governance, internal organization, and doctrine").

2018Compare Bowie , 271 Va. at 135 , 624 S.E.2d at 80 (holding the court had "subject matter jurisdiction over [the plaintiff church deacon's] defamation claims because the claims can be decided without addressing *553 issues of faith and doctrine"), with Cha , 262 Va. at 612 , 553 S.E.2d at 515 (holding the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate a church pastor's wrongful termination claim, which "would have required that the circuit court adjudicate issues regarding the church's governance, internal organization, and doctrine").

11
Jae-Woo Cha v. Korean Presbyterian Churchgreen
va · 2001 · cited in 1 Virginia opinions naming this issue, 2018–2018
2 sentences

2018Compare Bowie , 271 Va. at 135 , 624 S.E.2d at 80 (holding the court had "subject matter jurisdiction over [the plaintiff church deacon's] defamation claims because the claims can be decided without addressing *553 issues of faith and doctrine"), with Cha , 262 Va. at 612 , 553 S.E.2d at 515 (holding the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate a church pastor's wrongful termination claim, which "would have required that the circuit court adjudicate issues regarding the church's governance, internal organization, and doctrine").

2018Compare Bowie , 271 Va. at 135 , 624 S.E.2d at 80 (holding the court had "subject matter jurisdiction over [the plaintiff church deacon's] defamation claims because the claims can be decided without addressing *553 issues of faith and doctrine"), with Cha , 262 Va. at 612 , 553 S.E.2d at 515 (holding the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate a church pastor's wrongful termination claim, which "would have required that the circuit court adjudicate issues regarding the church's governance, internal organization, and doctrine").

11
Dean v. Paolicelligreen
va · 1952 · cited in 1 Virginia opinions naming this issue, 1998–1998
1 sentence

1998See, e.g., Town of Madison v. Ford, 255 Va. 429 (1998) (“the Virginia Constitution ... establishes] the limits of governmental action”); Dean v. Palolicelli, 194 Va. 219 (1952) (“The office and purpose of the constitution is to shape and fix the limits of governmental activity.”) Since there is no allegation that any governmental activity is being exercised by or through the employer, it is not possible in this case to base a wrongful termination claim, with nothing more, on the Bill of Rights of the Virginia Constitution.

11
Town of Madison, Inc. v. Fordgreen
va · 1998 · cited in 1 Virginia opinions naming this issue, 1998–1998
1 sentence

1998See, e.g., Town of Madison v. Ford, 255 Va. 429 (1998) (“the Virginia Constitution ... establishes] the limits of governmental action”); Dean v. Palolicelli, 194 Va. 219 (1952) (“The office and purpose of the constitution is to shape and fix the limits of governmental activity.”) Since there is no allegation that any governmental activity is being exercised by or through the employer, it is not possible in this case to base a wrongful termination claim, with nothing more, on the Bill of Rights of the Virginia Constitution.

11
Bailey v. Scott-Gallaher, Inc.green
va · 1997 · cited in 1 Virginia opinions naming this issue, 1997–1997
2 sentences

1997In dicta, the Court explained, “Brooks does not have a cause of action for wrongful discharge because he is unable to identify any Virginia statute establishing a public policy that Lawrence Chrysler violated.” Id. at 98-9 (emphasis supplied); see also, Bailey v. Scott-Gallaher, 253 Va. 121 (1997).

1997See Lawrence Chrysler Plymouth Corp. v. Brooks, 251 Va. 94 (1996); Bailey v. Scott-Gallaher, 253 Va. 121 (1997).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Virginia. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (5)

CaseCitedYears
Bowman v. State Bank of Keysville green
va · 1985
2 sentences

1998In determining whether the criminal statutes of the Commonwealth of Virginia sufficiently articulate a public policy which rises to the level of a clearly articulated public policy within the meaning of Bowman, it is necessary to briefly examine the facts in the seminal case of Bowman v. State Bank of Keysville, 229 Va. 534 (1985). hi Bowman , two bank employees who owned stock in their employer corporation were terminated from their at will employment when they complained to the bank of the coercion that had been applied to them to vote their stock in favor of a merger to which they were pers

1998Legal Analysis of Plaintiffs Claim With the exception of the Bowman v. State Bank of Keysville, supra, case itself, attempts in the Commonwealth of Virginia to state a wrongful termination claim on some statutory basis other than the Virginia Human Rights Act, have been nearly uniformly unsuccessful.

21998–1998
Kirby v. Commonwealth green
vactapp · 2007
1 sentence

2025“In this case, as in all others, we seek to decide cases, ‘on the best and narrowest ground available’ from the record.” Foltz v. Commonwealth, 58 Va. App. 107, 114 (2011) (quoting Kirby v. Commonwealth, 50 Va. App. 691 , 698 n.2 (2007)).

12025–2025
Rowan v. Tractor Supply Co. green
va · 2002
2 sentences

2008Do the narrow exceptions to the at-will employment doctrine articulated by the Virginia Supreme Court in Rowan v. Tractor Supply Co., 263 Va. 209, 213-14 , 559 S.E.2d 709 (2002), permit a wrongful termination claim by an attorney employee discharged for his refusal to engage in conduct prohibited by the Unauthorized Practice Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia?

2008Do the narrow exceptions to the at-will employment doctrine articulated by the Virginia Supreme Court in Rowan v. Tractor Supply Co., 263 Va. 209, 213-14 , 559 S.E.2d 709 (2002), permit a wrongful termination claim by an attorney employee discharged for his refusal to engage in conduct prohibited by the Unauthorized Practice Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia?

12008–2008
Miller v. Sevamp, Inc. green
va · 1987
1 sentence

1998For example, it has been held that a Bowman wrongful termination claim cannot be premised upon federal statutes (see e.g., Lawrence Chrysler Plymouth Corp. v. Brooks, 251 Va. 94 (1996)); a failure to follow State Board of Education regulations (see Noland v. School Bd. of Culpeper County (City of Charlottesville 1994) (Swett, J.)); appearing as a witness in a grievance procedure (see, Miller v. SEVAMP, Inc., 234 Va. 462 (1987)); Virginia Board of Nursing Regulations (see, Andrews v. Bon Secours-St.

11998–1998
McBroom v. DynCorp green
vaccfairfax · 1995
1 sentence

1997McBroom v. DynCorp., 38 Va. Cir. 109 (1995).

11997–1997

Statutes the citing opinions construe

VA § Va. Code Ann. § 13.1-662 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

CA 88 (1989–2026) OH 17 (2001–2026) TX 15 (1997–2026) CT 15 (1993–2017) WA 11 (2011–2024) UT 10 (1997–2020) NJ 8 (1988–2024) NC 8 (2005–2025) VA 7 (1997–2025) AZ 7 (1997–2022) IL 6 (1986–2019) NY 5 (2001–2015) IA 5 (2013–2025) PA 5 (2000–2023) WV 5 (2013–2026) MA 4 (2002–2017) DC 4 (2008–2018) IN 4 (2002–2019) CO 4 (1997–2026) NV 4 (2019–2019) MI 3 (1997–2016) ND 3 (1993–2013) OK 3 (1996–2009) VT 3 (2012–2023) AK 3 (1988–2024) MN 3 (1996–2012) MO 3 (2016–2019) SD 3 (1995–2008) NH 3 (2004–2023) KY 3 (2023–2025) MT 2 (1993–2008) NM 2 (2004–2006) AL 2 (2003–2003) SC 2 (2009–2011) WI 2 (2013–2013) RI 2 (2007–2015) OR 2 (2000–2015) DE 2 (2024–2024) AR 2 (2021–2023) GA 2 (2002–2007)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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