Doe v. SmithKline Beecham Corp.
Texas Court of Appeals
855 S.W.2d 248 (1993)
- Written by Kelsey Libby, JD
Facts
Jane Doe (plaintiff) received a job offer from Quaker Oats Company (Quaker) (defendant) for a marketing-assistant position. The offer did not include a definite term of employment and was conditioned on Doe passing a drug test. SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories, Inc. (SmithKline) (defendant) processed Doe’s drug test, which was positive for opiates. SmithKline represented that its results could be relied upon with virtual certainty. Quaker rescinded Doe’s job offer due to her positive test. Doe explained to Quaker that the positive result was due to having taken her roommate’s prescription medication, which she later retracted as false. Doe later claimed that the positive result was due to her consumption of poppy-seed muffins, which was a scientifically valid explanation. Doe reapplied to Quaker six months later and was rejected due to the earlier misrepresentation. Doe sued Quaker for breach of employment contract for terminating her employment and failing to allow her another opportunity to pass the drug test. Doe also sued Quaker and SmithKline for negligence related to the drug test. The trial court granted summary judgment for Quaker and SmithKline. Doe appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Carroll, C.J.)
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