Crenshaw v. Erskine College

**What Happened** William Crenshaw, a tenured English professor at Erskine College, sued the school claiming he was wrongfully fired and that the college broke his employment contract. A jury initially sided with Crenshaw and awarded him $600,000 in damages, believing the college had improperly terminated him despite his tenured status. **What the Court Decided** South Carolina's highest court overturned the jury's decision and ruled in favor of Erskine College. The court determined that the college did not actually breach its contract with Crenshaw when it fired him. The court threw out the $600,000 award, meaning Crenshaw received nothing. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that even tenured professors – who typically have strong job security – can lose wrongful termination lawsuits if courts determine their contracts weren't actually violated. It demonstrates that employment contracts must be carefully reviewed to understand what protections they actually provide. Workers should understand that jury verdicts in their favor can be overturned by higher courts if judges determine the law wasn't properly applied, regardless of how sympathetic their situation may seem.