When Norton was hired in 1978, he signed an "Employment Agreement" that his employment could be terminated at any time. Several years later, his employer issued a "Work Rule Policy and Handbook" that established policies for discipline and dismissal. Steps for notifying an employee about unsatisfactory performance were described. Norton was fired in 1989 because his boss was unhappy with sales in the office that Norton ran. Norton sued for violation of his employment contract because the company did not follow the steps in the handbook.
A jury awarded him $305,000 in back pay for breach of contract. Was the award upheld on appeal or was Norton an at-will employee? [Norton v. Caremark, 20 F.3d 330, 8th Cir. (1994)]