Keith B. Nilsson v. Mapco

This is an employment termination case. Mapco, Inc., a Nevada Corporation (MAPCO-Nevada), appeals from a judgment entered upon a jurys special verdict finding that it wrongfully terminated Keith B. Nilssons employment. On appeal, MAPCO-Nevada contends: (1) that it was not Nilssons employer; (2) that if it was Nilssons employer, Nilsson was an at-will employee, and could be terminated for any reason; (3) that the trial court erred in failing to give the jury instructions concerning at-will employment; and (4) that MAPCO-Nevada was entitled to costs and attorney fees on its defense of this action. We hold that MAPCO-Nevada was the proper party to this action, but that the trial courts jury instructions and special verdict form were ambiguous and not fully consistent with present Idaho law. We therefore vacate the judgment and remand this case for a new trial.