Privacy, random testing, slander, wrongful discharge.

(Editor's note: This is one of three court rulings concerning Thomas Poulos' suit against his former employer.) Poulos sues his employer, Pfizer, Inc., for wrongful discharge, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress. Poulos was dismissed after posting positive results in several drug tests. At issue in this episode are several motions by the company to strike individual counts from Poulos' complaint.

This is the first judicial review of this case.

A split decision. A superior court approved Pfizer's motion to dismiss Poulos' complaint of wrongful discharge and his complaint of breach of faith. The court denied the company's motion to dismiss Poulos' complaint of invasion of privacy.