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Hiram Turner Appellee
vs.
Halliburton Company and William Arend Appellants
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Issues:
Breach of contract, evidence
Case Summary:
The Halliburton Company appeals a lower court's ruling in a suit involving a former employee. Company officials fired Hiram Turner for stealing company-owned tools from a coworker's truck. Turner told company officials he took the tools as a prank on his coworker. Turner explained he was off duty and had been drinking at the time. Turner later applied for work at another business. The second company rejected Turner's application after learning from Halliburton officials that they terminated Turner for theft. Turner subsequently filed suit against Halliburton.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
A jury found for Turner and awarded him more than $80,000 in damages. Halliburton officials appeal the ruling.
Outcome:
Turner loses. The Supreme Court of Kansas reversed the ruling of the jury trial. The court ruled that Halliburton officials provided the information about Turner's dismissal as a matter of qualified privilege between supervisors in the normal course of business. The court ruled Halliburton shared the information without malicious intent.