The plaintiff, a partner at the defendant accounting firm, was forced to retire after the firm's CEO decided to reduce the number of partners due to an economic downturn.
The firm's policy board subsequently voted to compel his resignation under a provision of the partnership agreement allowing expulsion in the best interests of the partnership.
The plaintiff sued for breach of contract.
The court granted summary judgment for the plaintiff, finding that the policy board did not genuinely determine the issue but merely rubber-stamped the CEO's predetermined decision.
The court held that the expulsion was invalid and awarded the plaintiff compensatory damages for lost profits and retirement benefits, as well as aggravated damages for reputational harm.
