Savidge v. TransCanada Power Marketing, Ltd.

**What Happened** Employee Savidge sued TransCanada Power Marketing after a workplace dispute involving broken promises. Savidge claimed the company violated an oral (spoken) agreement, made promises it didn't keep, was unjustly enriched by his work, and violated Massachusetts consumer protection laws. The case also involved a third party and allegations of legal malpractice against an attorney named Lane. **What the Court Decided** The Massachusetts court issued a mixed ruling. It dismissed one claim where Savidge argued he was a "third-party beneficiary" of some agreement. However, the court allowed several other important claims to move forward, including breach of oral contract, broken promises (promissory estoppel), unjust enrichment, and violations of state consumer protection laws. The court also refused to dismiss the legal malpractice claim against the attorney. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows that workers can still pursue legal action even when they don't have written contracts. Oral agreements and promises from employers can still be legally binding. The decision also demonstrates that workers have multiple legal options when employers break their word, including consumer protection laws that may provide additional remedies beyond basic contract claims.