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LEIBU v. TRI-START ELECTRONICS, INC

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department.
Feb 28, 2006

Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

While the admissible evidence was sufficient to permit an inference that the defendants waived their right to terminate the plaintiff's written employment contract ( see Fahey v. Kennedy, 230 App Div 156; Kemelhor v. Penthouse Intl., Ltd., 689 F Supp 205, affd 873 F2d 1435 [1989]; cf. CPLR 4519), the fact that the defendants continued to employ the plaintiff after cause for discharge arose, did not, as a matter of law, constitute a waiver of the right to discharge him ( see Jerome v. Queen City Cycle Co., 163 NY 351; Gray v. Shepard, 147 NY 177, 183; Rosbach v. Sackett Wilhelms Co., 134 App Div 130; Restatement [Second] of Agency ยง 409 [2]). Under the circumstances of this case, including credible evidence that the defendants reduced the plaintiff's salary due to his alleged misconduct one year before his termination, the Supreme Court properly denied the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on the first, second, and third causes of action to recover damages for breach of contract ( see Bravin v. Fashion Week, 75 Misc 2d 753, 754; see also Nassau Trust Co. v. Montrose Concrete Prods. Corp., 56 NY2d 175, 184; Town of Hempstead v. Incorporated Vil. of Freeport, 15 AD3d 567, 569, lv denied 5 NY3d 711; Shickler v. Shickler, 97 AD2d 461; Bigda v. Fischbach Corp., 898 F Supp 1004, 1013, affd 101 F3d 108 [1996]).

The plaintiff's remaining contentions are without merit.