Beth Stuart, a fifty$-$five$-$year$-$old teacher, applied for a position in an upper$-$middle$-$class community in the eastern part of the United States. She had recently relocated and had accumulated over twenty$-$five years of teaching experience in another state. She served for six months as a substitute teacher in the district where she applied. She was interviewed for a permanent position to fill a sudden vacancy. The superintendent asked her to be prepared to begin teaching on August $28.$ Meanwhile, the superintendent continued to interview candidates for the vacant position. Stuart had decorated her classroom and was prepared to begin teaching three days before school opened. She was informed that another teacher had been hired instead. Stuart learned that the new hire was twenty$-$five years old.

Did Stuart err in decorating her room in the absence of a contract? Why or why not?

Does Stuart have legal recourse? Why or why not?

Did the superintendent breach a verbal contract with Stuart?

Does Stuart have defensible grounds to file suit based on age discrimination? Why or why not?

How do you think a court would rule in this case?

What are the administrative implications of this case?