Carl v. Children's Hospital, 702 A.2d 159 (1997)

Citation: Carl v. Children's Hospital, 702 A.2d 159 (1997)
Parent Document: Carl v. Children's Hospital, 702 A.2d 159 (1997)
Jurisdiction: DC (municipal)
Effective Date: 1997-09-23
Original Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2395626/carl-v-childrens-hospital/ ↗

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We hold that the "very narrow exception" created in Adams should not be read in a manner that makes it impossible to recognize any additional public policy exceptions to the at-will doctrine that may warrant recognition. We think Judge Schwelb, in his concurring opinion in Gray v. Citizens Bank, read Adams correctly: "We could not and did not hold in Adams that this was the only public policy exception, because that question was simply not presented." Gray, supra, 602 A.2d at 1098 (Schwelb, J., concurring). Adams simply said that there is "a very narrow exception to the at-will doctrine," 597 A.2d at 34 (emphasis added), not "just one and only one" such exception. There is nothing in the Adams opinion that bars this court  either a three-judge panel or the court en banc  from recognizing some other public policy exception when circumstances warrant such recognition. On this point a majority of the en banc court agrees. To the extent that Gray v. Citizens Bank holds differently, it is overruled. I

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