ÿWPCÄ /# ¢UN­ %û 0(w@)4i}Œ 0J” 0TÞ 0^2 0h 0rø 0|j 0†æ 0l 1uü 0dqU>ÕB) 0@< D3| B¯ DCÌ AM U*\ † v~ˆ vÓ AQÙÆ* 0Dð 0D4 D/x B§˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ÝÞßEàáDâã®eäVåÓ€ñäzz!´ô_M¦43|xñ2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò""""'ÿÿdxd d7Border 1dd* #Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial øÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ+"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€%ÔÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€%XÔÌÌò òJuly€3,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€%ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó óPtPtHHLÿôÿô XG(üHHLd'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò*+ ,-Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó..'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  Ýò òÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\Ñ›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEó óÌà@ àò òWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSON€€Ìà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌóóÌÌJAMES€CRITTENDEN,€€€€€à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àó óPlaintiff/Appellee,ò òà àà àà à)à àó óShelby€Law€No.€51927€T.D.Ìò òà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à à€ÌœÙ€*ÙßR€$&#A1-j|û ` Å `€€@ÿRß›à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àó óAppeal€No.€02A01„9609„CV„00211ò òÌMEMPHIS€HOUSING€AUTHORITY,à à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìó óà àDefendant/€Appellant.à àò òà à)à à€ÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àó óAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€MEMPHIS,€TENNESSEEÌÌÌÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€J.€WYETH€CHANDLER,€JUDGE€€ÌòòÌÌÌÌFor€the€Plaintiff/Appelleeóó:€òòà àà àà àFor€the€Defendant/Appellantóó:ÌAlan€Bryant€Chambers€€€à àà àà àMark€Beutelschies€€€€€€€€ÌJeff€A.€Crow,€Jr.€€à àà àà àà àMemphis,€Tennessee€ÌMemphis,€TennesseeÌò òÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àREVERSED€AND€REMANDED€à àÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àó óHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌòòÌóóALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.ÌÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€J.ÇØØÙ  ÙÓÓÑ7€üXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  Ñà@ àò òOPINIONó óÌà àThis€is€an€action€for€breach€of€an€employment€contract€and€deprivation€of€civil€rights€underÏ42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983.€€The€trial€court€granted€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€the€plaintiff€employee.€ÏWe€reverse.€Ìà àThe€facts€in€this€case€have€been€stipulated€or€are€otherwise€undisputed.€€Appellee€JamesÏCrittenden€(ð ðCrittendenðð)€was€hired€by€Appellant€Memphis€Housing€Authority€(ð ðMHAðð)€as€aÏtemporary€general€office€clerk.€€Eventually,€Crittenden€was€promoted€to€the€position€of€TemporaryÏManager€I€for€Emergency€Housing.€€This€position€was€later€reclassified€to€Permanent€Manager€I,Ïretroactive€to€the€date€Crittenden€became€a€temporary€manager.€Ìà àIn€its€operation,€MHA€is€partially€governed€by€federal€laws,€rules,€and€regulations,Ïimplemented€by€the€U.€S.€Department€of€Housing€and€Urban€Development€(ð ðHUDðð).€€MHAÏentered€into€an€Annual€Contributions€Contract€with€HUD€prior€to€Crittendenððs€employment.€ÏUnder€the€Annual€Contributions€Contract,€MHA€cannot€enter€into€a€contract€for€personal€servicesÏfor€more€than€two€years€without€the€prior€approval€of€HUD.Ìà àFrom€the€end€of€1991€through€February€1992,€HUD€conducted€a€review€of€MHAððsÏoperations,€including€its€employment€practices.€€As€a€result€of€this€review,€HUD€issued€a€reportÏwhich€concluded€in€part€that€Crittenden€had€been€improperly€hired€for€the€position€of€Manager€of€ÏEmergency€Housing.Ìà àBecause€HUD€concluded€that€Crittenden€had€been€improperly€hired,€HUD€required€MHAððsÏBoard€of€Commissioners€to€certify€that€Crittenden€would€be€terminated€in€accordance€with€theÏrequirements€of€the€Annual€Contributions€Contract.€€If€this€were€not€done,€HUD€stated€that€MHAÏwould€face€sanctions.€€These€sanctions€could€include€having€MHAððs€requests€for€reimbursementÏunder€the€Annual€Contributions€Contract€denied€or€having€MHAððs€property€taken€over€by€HUD,Ïpursuant€to€provisions€of€the€Annual€Contributions€Contract.€Ìà àMHA€sent€a€letter€to€HUD€requesting€reconsideration€of€the€directive€to€terminateÏCrittenden.€€This€request€was€denied.Ìà àAs€it€had€been€directed€by€HUD,€MHA€terminated€Crittenden€on€April€28,€1992.€€TheÍparties€stipulated€that€the€termination€was€due€to€HUDððs€requirements,€and€that€Crittenden€was€notÏterminated€due€to€his€work€performance.€€Crittenden€requested€a€grievance€hearing,€but€this€requestÏwas€later€withdrawn.Ìà àDuring€Crittendenððs€employment€with€MHA,€MHA€had€in€effect€an€employee€handbookÏknown€as€its€Manual€of€Operations.€€The€Manualððs€forward€states:ÌÓÓà8 àThis€is€the€official€Manual€of€Operations€for€the€Memphis€Housing€Authority.€€ItsÏpurpose€is€to€arrange€for€ready€reference€a€review€of€the€policies,€relationships,€andÏprocedures€of€[MHA].€€It€is€intended€primarily€as€a€guide€for€employees€in€theÏdischarge€of€their€duties.ÌÌÓÓArticle€IV€of€the€Manual,€entitled€ð ðAmendments,ðð€provides:ÌÓÓà8 àThe€Manual€of€Operations€and€the€By„Laws€of€[MHA]€may€be€amended€by€anyÏspecial€or€regular€meeting€of€the€Board€of€Commissioners€by€a€simple€majority€ofÏsaid€Commissioners,€there€being€a€quorum€present.ÌÌÓÓSection€208€of€the€Manual,€entitled€ð ðEmployment€and€Personnel€Regulations,ðð€provides:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àAll€employment€and€personnel€procedures€shall€be€regulated€by€theÏprovisions€hereinafter€provided€in€this€section€and€elsewhere€in€thisÏManual.ÌÌÓÓIn€this€section,€the€Manual€lists€four€reasons€for€termination€of€services:€resignation,€dismissal€forÏjust€cause,€retirement,€and€reduction€in€force.€€The€Manual€also€lists€causes€for€which€an€employeeÏmay€be€suspended,€demoted,€or€terminated,€and€it€divides€the€causes€into€two€categories,€majorÏinfractions€and€other€infractions.€€After€listing€examples€of€infractions,€the€Manual€states:ÌÓÓà8 àNone€of€the€aforementioned€Major€or€Other€Infractions€will€be€deemed€to€preventÏthe€dismissal,€demotion,€suspension,€or€disciplinary€action€of€an€employee€for€justÏcause.€€JUST€CAUSE€shall€exist€when€[MHA]€has€a€reasonable€basis€for€the€actionÏtaken€even€though€such€cause€is€not€contained€in€those€mentioned€above.ÌÌÓÓSection€304€of€the€Manual,€entitled€the€ð ðPersonnel€Grievance€Procedure,ðð€sets€forth€a€procedureÏwhereby€employees€may€file€ð ðgrievances€concerned€with€the€interpretation€and/or€application€ofÏ[the€Manual],€its€directives,€procedures,€working€conditions€and€discipline.ðð€€Finally,€Section€401Ïof€the€Manual,€entitled€ð ðPurpose,ðð€provides:ÌÓÓà8 àThis€Manual€of€Operations€contemplates€that€every€[function]€of€[MHA]€shall€beÏcarried€out€by€its€members€and€employees€strictly€in€accordance€with€policies€andÏprocedures€adopted€by€[MHA],€and€incorporated€in€the€Manual.ÌÌÓÓà àAfter€his€discharge,€Crittenden€was€chronically€ill€and€would€have€been€unable€to€performÏhis€work€duties€for€a€period€of€eleven€months€from€his€discharge€through€the€date€of€the€trialÏcourtððs€order.€€In€addition,€Crittenden€tended€to€the€health€needs€of€his€terminally€ill€father,€fromÏsix€months€from€the€date€of€Crittendenððs€discharge€until€the€date€of€his€fatherððs€death.€€Ìà àIn€February€1993,€Crittenden€filed€a€lawsuit€against€MHA,€alleging€that€MHAððs€Manual€ofÏOperations€was€an€employment€contract€and€that€he€was€terminated€without€just€cause€and€inÏbreach€of€his€employment€contract€with€MHA.€€In€June€1995,€Crittenden€filed€a€motion€to€amendÏthe€complaint€to€include€a€claim€for€deprivation€of€civil€rights,€and€for€the€amendment€to€relate€backÏto€the€date€of€the€original€filing€of€the€complaint.Ìà àMHA€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€and€for€summary€judgment,€which€was€denied.€ÏSubsequently,€Crittenden€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€MHA€filed€a€Motion€for€Leave€toÏRenew€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment.€€The€trial€court€conducted€a€hearing€on€CrittendenððsÏmotion€to€amend€and€motion€for€summary€judgment,€as€well€as€MHAððs€motion€to€renew€its€motionÏfor€summary€judgment.€€The€trial€court€granted€Crittendenððs€motion€for€leave€to€amend€and€forÏrelation€back,€denied€MHAððs€motion€to€renew€its€motion€for€summary€judgment,€and€grantedÏCrittendenððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.Ìà àIn€granting€summary€judgment€in€Crittendenððs€favor,€the€trial€court€found€that€CrittendenÏwas€terminated€by€MHA€based€on€HUDððs€demand,€and€that€the€reason€for€HUDððs€demand€wasÏirregularities€in€Crittendenððs€hiring€that€were€caused€by€MHA,€not€Crittenden.€€The€trial€courtÏdetermined€that€MHAððs€Manual€of€Operations€limited€discharges€to€those€for€ð ðjust€causeðð€andÏcreated€ð ða€reasonable€expectation€of€continued€employment.ðð€€It€found€that€Crittendenððs€terminationÏwas€not€for€ð ðjust€causeðð€and€was€a€breach€of€Crittendenððs€ð ðcontract€for€employmentðð€with€MHA.€ÏIt€also€concluded€that€Crittenden€had€a€ð ðproperty€right€in€his€jobðð€based€on€ð ða€reasonableÏexpectation€of€continued€employmentðð€and€that€MHA€had€deprived€Crittenden€of€this€property€rightÏcontrary€to€Article€1,€Section€8,€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution€and€without€due€process€of€lawÍunder€the€Fourteenth€Amendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution.€€It€found€this€to€be€a€violationÏof€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983.€€It€awarded€Crittenden€$38,662€in€damages€as€back€pay€and€ordered€himÏreinstated€as€Manager€of€Emergency€Housing€if€and€when€the€position€became€available.€€MHAÏnow€appeals€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.Ìà àOn€appeal,€MHA€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€Crittendenððs€motion€toÏamend€his€complaint,€in€granting€Crittendenððs€motion€for€summary€judgment,€and€in€denyingÏMHAððs€motion€for€leave€to€renew€its€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€MHA€also€appeals€the€reliefÏawarded€Crittenden.€€We€conclude€that€the€outcome€of€this€appeal€is€controlled€by€this€CourtððsÏrecent€decision€in€ò òòòWilliams€v.€Memphis€Housing€Authorityó óóó,€No.€02A01„9608„CV„00190,Ïslip€op.€at€2„6€(Tenn.€App.€June€2,€1997).Ìà àIn€ò òòòWilliams€v.€MHAó óóó,€two€MHA€employees€were€terminated€under€circumstancesÏsubstantially€similar€to€those€under€which€Crittenden€was€terminated.€€As€in€this€appeal,€inÏò òòòWilliams€v.€MHAó óóó,€the€dispositive€question€was€whether€MHAððs€Manual€of€OperationsÏconstituted€an€employment€agreement€which€contractually€limited€MHAððs€right€to€terminate€theÏemployees.€€We€determined€that€the€Manual€of€Operations€was€not€an€employment€contract€thatÏlimited€MHAððs€ability€to€terminate€an€employee,€reasoning€as€follows:€€ÌÓÓà8 àà àBecause€Tennessee€adheres€to€the€ð ðemployee„at„willðð€rule,€a€presumptionÏarises€in€this€state€that€an€employee€is€an€employee€at€will.€€ò òòòDavis€v.ÏConnecticut€Gen.€Life€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€743€F.€Supp.€1273,€1280€(M.D.€Tenn.Ï1990).€€Under€this€well„established€rule,€a€contract€for€employment€for€an€indefiniteÏterm€is€considered€a€contract€at€will€which€can€be€terminated€by€an€employer€(or€anÏemployee)€at€any€time€without€cause.€€ò òòòBringle€v.€Methodist€Hosp.ó óóó,€701ÏS.W.2d€622,€625€(Tenn.€App.€1985);€ò òòòaccord€Graves€v.€Anchor€WireÏCorp.ó óóó,€692€S.W.2d€420,€422€(Tenn.€App.€1985);€ò òòòWhitaker€v.€Care„More,ÏInc.ó óóó,€621€S.W.2d€395,€396€(Tenn.€App.€1981).ÌÌà8 àà àIn€recent€years,€the€courts€of€this€state€have€recognized,€at€least€in€theory,Ïthat€an€exception€to€the€at„will€rule€may€arise€where€an€employer€promulgates€anÏemployee€handbook€which€confers€certain€benefits€on€employees.€€In€order€to€beÏconsidered€part€of€the€employment€contract,€however,€the€handbook€must€containÏspecific€language€showing€the€employerððs€intent€to€be€bound€by€the€handbookððsÏprovisions.€€ò òòòSmith€v.€Morrisó óóó,€778€S.W.2d€857,€858€(Tenn.€App.€1988).€ÏUnless€the€employee€handbook€contains€specific€guarantees€or€bindingÏcommitments,€the€handbook€will€not€constitute€a€contract.€€ò òòòWhittaker€v.€Care„Moreó óóó,€621€S.W.2d€at€397.€€As€stated€by€one€court,€ð ðthe€language€used€must€beÍphrased€in€binding€terms,€interpreted€in€the€context€of€the€entire€handbook,€and€readÏin€conjunction€with€any€other€relevant€material,€such€as€an€employmentÏapplication.ðð€€ò òòòClaiborne€v.€Frito„Lay,€Inc.ó óóó,€718€F.€Supp.€1319,€1321€(E.D.ÏTenn.€1989).€€Our€research€has€revealed€few€instances€in€which€appellate€courts€ofÏthis€state€have€concluded€that€the€language€of€an€employee€handbook€was€bindingÏon€an€employer.€€ò òòòSee€Williams€v.€Maremont€Corp.ó óóó,€776€S.W.2d€78€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1988)€(holding€that€terms€of€employee€handbook€were€binding€on€employerÏwhere€handbook€provided€that€employees€would€be€recalled€in€order€of€seniority);Ïò òòòHamby€v.€Genesco,€Inc.ó óóó,€627€S.W.2d€373€(Tenn.€App.€1981)€(holding€thatÏemployee€handbookððs€ð ðrollbackðð€provision€was€binding€on€employer€whereÏhandbook€provided€that,€for€so€long€as€employment€relationship€continued,Ïhandbook€contained€guaranteed€policies,€practices,€and€procedures€of€employer);Ïò òòòsee€also€Hooks€v.€Gibsonó óóó,€842€S.W.2d€625€(Tenn.€App.€1992)€(concludingÏthat€employee€handbook€became€part€of€employment€contract€where€handbook€wasÏpromulgated€pursuant€to€agreement€between€employer€and€state€and€employeesÏwere€third„party€beneficiaries€of€such€agreement).€.€.€.€ÌÌà8 àà àAfter€carefully€reviewing€the€specific€language€contained€in€MHAððs€ManualÏof€Operations,€we€conclude€that€the€Manualððs€provisions€are€insufficient€toÏovercome€the€presumption€that€[the€Employees]€were€at„will€employees.€€TheÏEmployees€contend€that€the€Manual€contains€sufficient€guarantees€to€be€bindingÏupon€MHA€because€the€Manual€specifically€contemplates€that€all€MHA€functionsÏð ðshall€be€carried€out€by€its€members€and€employees€strictly€in€accordance€withðð€theÏManualððs€policies€and€procedures€and,€further,€because€the€Manual€states€that€ð ð[a]llÏemployment€and€personnel€procedures€shall€be€regulated€byðð€the€ManualððsÏprovisions.€€If€this€language€evidences€an€intent€on€the€part€of€MHA€to€be€bound€byÏthe€Manualððs€provisions,€however,€such€intent€is€contradicted€by€the€existence€of€aÏprovision€in€the€Manual€giving€MHAððs€Board€of€Commissioners€the€authority€toÏamend€the€Manual€at€any€special€or€regular€Board€meeting.€€ð ðAny€language€thatÏpreserves€a€unilateral€right€on€the€part€of€the€employer€to€alter€or€modify€theÏcontents€€€of€[a]€handbookðð€generally€precludes€the€handbook€from€beingÏconsidered€part€of€the€employment€contract.€€ò òòòClaiborne€v.€Frito„Lay,€Inc.ó óóó,Ï718€F.€Supp.€1319,€1321€(E.D.€Tenn.€1989);€ò òòòsee,€e.g.,€Smith€v.€Morrisó óóó,€778ÏS.W.2d€857,€858€(Tenn.€App.€1988)€(handbookððs€language€clearly€showed€ð ðthatÏmodifications€were€anticipatedðð);€ò òòòBringle€v.€Methodist€Hosp.ó óóó,€701€S.W.2dÏ622,€624€(Tenn.€App.€1985)€(handbook€reserved€to€employer€ð ðright€to€change€andÏabolish€policies,€procedures,€rules€and€regulationsðð);€ò òòòGregory€v.€Huntó óóó,€24€F.3dÏ781,€786€(6th€Cir.€1994)€(handbook€provided€that€policies€were€ð ðsubject€to€changeÏby€management,€unilaterally€and€without€noticeðð);€ò òòòDavis€v.€Connecticut€Gen.ÏLife€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€743€F.€Supp.€1273,€1279€(M.D.€Tenn.€1990)€(handbook€reservedÏto€employer€ð ðright€to€change€any€or€all€such€policies,€practices€and€procedures€inÏwhole€or€in€part€at€any€time,€with€or€without€noticeðð).€€Such€language€insteadÏindicates€ð ðthat€the€handbook€simply€constitutes[s]€a€set€of€guidelines€or€a€source€ofÏinformation€for€an€employee.ðð€€ò òòòClaiborne€v.€Frito„Layó óóó,€718€F.€Supp.€at€1321.€ÏIn€the€case€of€MHAððs€Manual€of€Operations,€this€conclusion€is€further€supported€byÏlanguage€indicating€that€the€Manualððs€purpose€ð ðis€intended€primarily€as€a€guide€forÏemployees€in€the€discharge€of€their€duties.ððÌÌà8 àà àEven€if€the€Manual€of€Operationsðð€language€demonstrates€an€intent€on€theÏpart€of€MHA€to€be€bound€by€the€Manual,€we€find€nothing€in€the€ManualððsÏprovisions€which€would€alter€the€Employeesðð€status€as€at„will€employees.€€First,€weÍnote€that€the€Manual€did€not€entitle€the€Employees€to€a€specific€term€of€employmentÏbecause€the€Manualððs€provisions€gave€the€Employees€no€assurances€of€employmentÏfor€any€definite€time.€€ò òòòSee€Graves€v.€Anchor€Wire€Corp.ó óóó,€692€S.W.2d€420,Ï421€(Tenn.€App.€1985);€ò òòòWhittaker€v.€Care„More,€Inc.ó óóó,€621€S.W.2d€395,€397Ï(Tenn.€App.€1981);€ò òòòaccord€Davis€v.€Connecticut€Gen.€Life€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€743ÏF.€Supp.€1273,€1280€(M.D.€Tenn.€1990)€(concluding€that,€because€Tennessee€stillÏclings€to€ð ðemployee„at„willðð€rule,€presumption€that€employee€is€at€will€must€beÏovercome€by€specific€language€guaranteeing€definite€term€of€employment).€ÏMoreover,€contrary€to€the€Employeesðð€argument,€the€terms€of€the€Manual€did€notÏlimit€MHAððs€right€to€terminate€the€Employees€by€requiring€that€any€termination€ofÏservices€be€for€one€of€the€enumerated€reasons,€such€as€just€cause.€Although€theÏManual€listed€only€four€reasons€for€termination,€including€resignation,€dismissal€forÏjust€cause,€retirement,€and€reduction€in€force,€this€list€did€not€purport€to€beÏexclusive.€€Indeed,€the€Manualððs€inclusion€of€reduction€in€force€to€this€listÏcontemplates€that€certain€business€exigencies€may€arise€which€necessitateÏdismissing€employees€for€reasons€other€than€just€cause.€€In€this€case,€therefore,€weÏcan€find€no€language€that€unequivocally€overcomes€the€presumption€that€[theÏEmployees]€were€at„will€employees.€€ò òòòSee€Gregory€v€Huntó óóó,€24€F.3d€at€787;Ïò òòòDavis€v.€Connecticut€Gen.€Life€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€743€F.€Supp.€at€1280.ÌÌÓÓò òòòWilliams€v.€MHAó óóó,€slip€op.€at€2„6€(footnotes€omitted).Ìà àIn€accordance€with€ò òòòWilliams€v.€MHAó óóó,€we€conclude€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€rulingÏthat€MHAððs€Manual€of€Operations€constituted€an€employment€contract€which€limited€MHAððs€rightÏto€terminate€Crittenden.€€This€leads€to€the€related€conclusion€that€MHAððs€Manual€did€not€grantÏCrittenden€a€protected€property€interest€in€continued€employment€with€MHA.€€ò òòòSee€Williamsó óóó,€slipÏop.€at€7€(citing€ò òòòGregory€v.€Huntó óóó,€24€F.3d€781,€787€(6th€Cir.€1994)).€€Since€Crittenden€had€noÏprotected€property€interest€in€his€job,€he€is€not€entitled€to€relief€under€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983.€€ò òòòSeeÏBoard€of€Regents€v.€Rothó óóó,€408€U.S.€564,€580€&€n.1,€92€S.Ct.€2701,€2710€&€n.€1€(1972).ò òÌœó óÇ›à àConsequently,€the€trial€courtððs€decision€granting€Crittendenððs€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment€is€reversed,€as€well€as€the€trial€courtððs€order€granting€Crittenden€back€pay€andÏreinstatement.€€The€remaining€issues€on€appeal€are€pretermitted€by€this€holding.Ìà àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed,€and€the€cause€is€remanded€for€furtherÏproceedings€consistent€with€this€Opinion.€€Costs€are€taxed€to€Appellee€Crittenden,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àò òóóHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌòòÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.ÌÌÌòòÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€J.ó ó