You are interviewed by a prospective employer concerning a job that you have coveted for several years. After protracted (lengthy) negotiations, you are presented with a pre-printed form contract that contains the terms of your employment agreement. In the body of the agreement, it states, “This document contains the full and complete understanding and agreement by and between the parties. No other representations or promises have been made. Both parties understand that this contract is a wholly integrated agreement.” This language appeared somewhere in the middle of the 4 page pre-printed form.

Just prior to signing the agreement, the employer made several promises to you, including but not limited to the following:

You will receive a year-end bonus each and every year that will be based on your performance

Your health insurance will be paid by the company after you complete your probationary period of six months

You will be reimbursed for auto expenses that you incur while using your car for business purposes.

The employer refused to honor ANY of the above oral promises and also fired you without cause. You sue the employer and attempt to introduce evidence of the oral promises. Your employer objects.

What are the legal arguments favoring your employer that if accepted by the court, would prevent you from introducing evidence of the promises?

What are the legal arguments that you would make to convince the court to allow you to introduce the oral promises?