Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Skagerberg v. Blandin Paper Co.
Minnesota Supreme Court
266 N.W 872 (1936)
Generally, employment is presumed to be terminable at will unless a party can prove three things.
First, there was a clear and unequivocal offer of lifetime employment or employment for a definite duration. Second, the hiring Skagerberg versus Blandin Paper Company, the In Skagerberg versus Blandin Paper Company, the Minnesota Supreme Court considered whether an employee who accepted a job offer for permanent employment for an indefinite term was an employee at will.
Roger Skagerberg was a self employed consulting engineer specializing in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. As a self employed consultant, Skagerberg made roughly two hundred dollars per week.
And in nineteen thirty, Blandin Paper Company, a paper manufacturing plant in Minnesota, hired Skagerberg to consult on projects related to plant expansion.
At the time, Skagerberg was considering taking an associate professor position at Purdue University that would pay him thirty three hundred dollars per year. A few months later, Skagerberg received a job offer from Purdue that required an immediate response.
Skagerberg then called one of Blandin's officers about the job offer and told the officer that it required an immediate response.
The officer told Skagerberg that if he turned down Purdue's offer and purchased the home of Blandin's power superintendent in Grand Rapids, the company would give him permanent employment at a salary of six hundred dollars per month. Skagerberg intended to accept Blandin's offer and sent a letter to the officer that reiterated the offer's terms. The letter stated that the job would be permanent and that Skagerberg would turn down Purdue's offer in reliance on the officer's representations.
The letter also stated that Skagerberg would buy the power superintendent's house as an accommodation.
Skagerberg then moved to Grand Rapids, started working for Blandin, and contracted to purchase the superintendent's home.
However, approximately two years later, Skagerberg was fired. Skagerberg sued Blandin in state district court for wrongful discharge and breach of contract and sought damages.
Blandin filed a demurrer or motion to dismiss and argued that Skagerberg was only an employee at will and therefore, he could be fired for any reason or no reason at all. The court agreed and granted the demurrer.
Skagerberg appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
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Get more case briefs explained with Quimbee. Quimbee has over 42,700 case briefs (and counting) keyed to 988 casebooks ► quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Skagerberg v. Blandin Paper Co.
Minnesota Supreme Court
266 N.W 872 (1936)
Generally, employment is presumed to be terminable at will unless a party can prove three things.
First, there was a clear and unequivocal offer of lifetime employment or employment for a definite duration. Second, the hiring Skagerberg versus Blandin Paper Company, the In Skagerberg versus Blandin Paper Company, the Minnesota Supreme Court considered whether an employee who accepted a job offer for permanent employment for an indefinite term was an employee at will.
Roger Skagerberg was a self employed consulting engineer specializing in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. As a self employed consultant, Skagerberg made roughly two hundred dollars per week.
And in nineteen thirty, Blandin Paper Company, a paper manufacturing plant in Minnesota, hired Skagerberg to consult on projects related to plant expansion.
At the time, Skagerberg was considering taking an associate professor position at Purdue University that would pay him thirty three hundred dollars per year. A few months later, Skagerberg received a job offer from Purdue that required an immediate response.
Skagerberg then called one of Blandin's officers about the job offer and told the officer that it required an immediate response.
The officer told Skagerberg that if he turned down Purdue's offer and purchased the home of Blandin's power superintendent in Grand Rapids, the company would give him permanent employment at a salary of six hundred dollars per month. Skagerberg intended to accept Blandin's offer and sent a letter to the officer that reiterated the offer's terms. The letter stated that the job would be permanent and that Skagerberg would turn down Purdue's offer in reliance on the officer's representations.
The letter also stated that Skagerberg would buy the power superintendent's house as an accommodation.
Skagerberg then moved to Grand Rapids, started working for Blandin, and contracted to purchase the superintendent's home.
However, approximately two years later, Skagerberg was fired. Skagerberg sued Blandin in state district court for wrongful discharge and breach of contract and sought damages.
Blandin filed a demurrer or motion to dismiss and argued that Skagerberg was only an employee at will and therefore, he could be fired for any reason or no reason at all. The court agreed and granted the demurrer.
Skagerberg appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Want more details on this case? Get the rule of law, issues, holding and reasonings, and more case facts here: quimbee.com/cases/skagerberg-v-blandin-paper-co
The Quimbee App features over 42,700 case briefs keyed to 988 casebooks. Try it free for 7 days! ► quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Have Questions about this Case? Submit your questions and get answers from a real attorney here: quimbee.com/cases/skagerberg-v-blandin-paper-co
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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel ► youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=QuimbeeDotCom
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