Breton v. Safran

**The Dispute** A former employee of Abiomed, Inc. sued the company for breach of contract, specifically claiming the employer violated the "implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing." This legal concept means that even when a contract doesn't spell out every detail, both parties should act fairly and in good faith toward each other. The employee argued that Abiomed failed to treat them fairly in how they handled the employment relationship. **The Court's Decision** The federal court in New York ruled in favor of Abiomed, granting the company's request for summary judgment. The judge found there were no disputed facts that needed to go to trial and that the law clearly supported the employer's position. The employee's breach of contract claim was dismissed entirely. **What This Means for Workers** This ruling shows how difficult it can be for employees to prove that an employer violated the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing. Workers should understand that courts set a high bar for these claims - it's not enough to feel treated unfairly. Employees need strong evidence showing the employer acted in bad faith or undermined the employment relationship in ways that clearly violated their contractual obligations.