JEROLD J. MACKENZIE,
314 White Pine Road
Delafield, W1 53018-1124
Plaintiff,
v.
MILLER BREWING COMPANY,
a Wisconsin corporation Registered Agent:
William G. Schmus
3939 West Highland Boulevard
Milwaukee, WI 53208
PATRICIA G. BEST,
W130 S6952 Camilla Court
Muskego, WI 53150
ROBERT L. SMITH
318 East Acacia Road
Fox Point, WI 53217
Defendants.
COMPLAINT
Case No. Case
Code NO.
Now comes plaintiff, Jerold. J. Mackenzie, by his attorneys, Gerald
P. Boyle, S.C. and Michael A.I.
Whitcomb, and as and for a complaint against defendants, Miller Brewing
Company, Patricia G.
Best, and Robert L. Smith alleges and shows to the court as follows:
General Allegations
1) Plaintiff, Jerold J. Mackenzie, is an adult resident of the state
of Wisconsin and resides at 314
White Pine Road, Delafield, Wisconsin.
2) Defendant, Miller Brewing Company (hereinafter "Miller"), is a corporation
duly organized under
the laws of the state of Wisconsin, with principle offices located
at 8939 West Highland Boulevard,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3) Defendant, Patricia G. Best (hereinafter "Best") is an adult resident
of the state of Wisconsin and
resides at w130 S6952 Camilla Court, Muskego, Wisconsin.
4) Defendant, Robert L. Smith (hereinafter "Smith") is an adult resident
of the state of Wisconsin and
resides at 318 East Acacia Road, Fox Point, Wisconsin.
5) In April 1974, plaintiff moved from Seattle, Washington to Great
Falls, Montana to accept a
grade level 7 area manager position with Miller.
6) In June 1976, plaintiff moved from Great Falls, Montana to Denver,
Colorado to accept a
promotion to grade level 5 regional administrator position with Miller.
7) In June 1977, plaintiff moved from Denver, Colorado to Cincinnati,
Ohio to accept a promotion
to grade level ll regional sales manager position with Miller.
8) In February l979, plaintiff moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin to accept a
promotion to grade level l2 sales development manager position with
Miller.
9) In October 1979, plaintiff moved from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Washington,
D.C. to accept a
promotion to grade level la regional manager position with Miller.
10) In April 1382, plaintiff moved from Washington, D.C. to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin to accept a
promotion to executive grade level 14 sales services and development
manager position with Miller.
In this position, plaintiff managed three departments: distributor
services, field sales services, and
sales development. Plaintiff reported to the sales administration and
planning director, H.I.
Wiensheim, who reported to the vice president of sales, Leonard J.
Goldstein. See Exhibit 1 which is
attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
11) In May 1984, Miller conducted a reduction of manpower which included
reorganization of
plaintiff's area whereby the field sales services department was merged
with the distributor services
department. See Exhibit 2 which is attached hereto and incorporated
herein by this reference.
12) In October 1987, the sales administrative department again was reorganized.
Plaintiff retained
management of distributor and field sales services , and sales development
was assigned to William
W. Glickert as market development manager. See Exhibit 3 which is attached
hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference. At this time, the sales administration
and planning director,
Smith, advised plaintiff that his executive grade level 14 was not
affected by the reorganization, and
that the reorganization would permit plaintiff to devote his time exclusively
to distributor and field
services, which were of significant importance to Miller at that time.
Plaintiff was not informed by
Smith that his position as distributor and field sales services manager
was evaluated to be grade level
13.
13 ) In February 1988, the sales administration department again was
reorganized. see Exhibit 4
attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
14) In 1989, the sales administrative department again was reorganized.
See Exhibit 5 attached
hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
15) In March l990, the sales administrative department again was reorganized
subsequent to a
Boston Consulting Group study. Plaintiff retained management of distributor
services and field sales
services, but reported to Paul J. Zielinski, director of the new distribution
management department.
See Exhibit 6 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
At this time, Paul J. Zielinski
committed to assisting plaintiff in reaching his expressed goal of
becoming a director for Miller.
16) In December 1990, Sandra K. Davies was appointed client services
manager in information
systems to liaison with marketing. In January l991, Sandra K. Davies
was assigned to work with
plaintiff to develop an automated market survey system. At this time
plaintiff was in the advanced
stages of developing a prototype model for an automated market survey
system as a support
platform for the Miller Masters program administered by plaintiff to
recognize distributor
performance excellence. The automated market survey system, later named
Automated In-Market
Survey (AIMS), incorporated handheld and laptop computer technology.
Plaintiff developed the
software design and specifications for AIMS.
17) In February 1991, a computer mapping package was acquired for distribution
management upon
plaintiff's recommendation.
18) On February 7, 1992, Miller authorized the use of AIMS in the sales
division. on February 17,
1992, plaintiff was removed from the AIMS project by Paul J. Zielinski.
Paul J. Zielinski wanted
plaintiff to devote full time to completing the mapping package.
19) In May 1992, plaintiff was assigned to a task force for distributor
performance, one of the
initiatives created as a result of recommendations from the Boston
Consulting Group. See Exhibits 7
and 8 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
20) On August 17, 1992, plaintiff was first advised by Miller that his
executive grade l. position had
been "grandfathered" in 1987. Plaintiff was further advised by Smith
that his position would be
changed from executive grade 14 to grade 13. See Exhibit 9 attached
hereto and incorporated herein
by this reference.
21) On October 16, 1992, the Boston Consulting Group distributor performance
task force leaders,
Thomas J. Cardella and Charles R. Teal, recommended to the Boston Consulting
Group steering
committee and John N. MacDonough, President of Miller, that the distributor
performance initiative
be provided permanent status with Miller and be assigned to plaintiff.
It was recommended further
that plaintiff retain management of distributor and field services,
be provided additional personnel, be
appointed director of the new department, and be reassigned from business
development under
Smith to sales under Thomas A. Koehler. The steering committee and
John N. MacDonough
concurred with the recommendation. Subsequently however because of
the vociferous objections of
Smith, John N. MacDonough requested additional time to consider the
recommendation.
22) 0n October 27, 1992, plaintiff was placed on special assignment
to support the marketshare
achievement plan, to complete the programming of distributor territories
into the mapping package,
and to establish the procedure for programming and maintaining the
distributor territories in the
mapping package. Plaintiff was relieved of management responsibilities
for distributor and field sales
services. See Exhibit 10 attached hereto and incorporated herein by
this reference.
23) On December 3, 1992, plaintiff was transferred to the sales division
as distributor information
manager to complete the marketshare achievement plan which included
the AIMS project.
Thereafter, plaintiff presented to Thomas A. Koehler, vice-president
of sales, his plan to reorganize
field sales in a more sales productive and cost effective manner. The
plan was endorsed by Thomas
A. Koehler who established a task force lead by plaintiff to implement
the plan.
24) In January 1993, plaintiff was assigned to report to David A. Goulet,
sales administration and
analysis director. In February 1993, three coordinator positions were
created to support the
marketshare achievement plan. See Exhibit 11 attached hereto and incorporated
herein by this
reference. Thereafter a marketshare achievement plan training program
was conducted attended by
Michael J. Mazzoni, a corporate organization consultant retained by
Miller.
25) In early March 1993, a Boston Consulting Group task force was created
merging plaintiff's
reorganization plan with the consultant responsibilities of Michael
J. Mazzoni. The task force was to
study and implement plaintiff's reorganization plan which was named
Service 2000.
26) On March '9, 1993 at about 7:00 a.m., plaintiff was conversing with
Best, the distributor services
manager, with whom plaintiff had worked since 1990. See Exhibit 12
attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference. During the course of early morning
casual conversation, plaintiff
asked Best if she had seen the Seinfeld television program, a situational
comedy, which was
broadcast at 8:00 p.m. on March 18, 1993. Miller advertisements were
broadcast during the
program. Best had not seen the program. Plaintiff advised that he was
surprised that the program was
not censored because it involved Seinfeld trying to remember the name
of a woman he was dating.
All Seinfeld could remember was that the women's name rhymed with a
female body part. At the end
of the Seinfeld show, Seinfeld announced that the woman's name was
Delores, About an hour later,
plaintiff, Best and Robert A. Davis also discussed the Seinfeld program.
They all were amazed that
the Seinfeld program was not censored.
27) On March 24, 1993 at about 7:00 a.m., plaintiff stopped at Best's
office for an early morning
chat. At that time, Best advised plaintiff that the discussion of the
Seinfeld program with her was
embarrassing to her. Plaintiff apologized to Best, and expressed his
surprise at her alleged
embarrassment because of her frequent use of lewd references to male
body parts.
28) On March 25, 1993 at about 10:00 a.m., plaintiff was directed to
Miller's law library where he
was interviewed by Albert R. Butler of Miller's legal department, George
K. Whyte, Jr. of the law
firm of Quarles & Brady, and Eric Pennebaker from Miller's equal
opportunity office. Plaintiff was
questioned about his conversation with Best about the Seinfeld program.
29) On March 25, 1993 shortly before noon, plaintiff was directed again
to Miller's law library at
which time he was terminated. Shortly thereafter, Joseph N. Culpepper
was assigned to plaintiff's
former position of distributor information manager. See Exhibit 13
attached hereto and incorporated
herein by this reference.
30) In March 1993, plaintiff recommended a plan of corporate organization
for Miller to consultant
Michael J. Mazzoni, which was implemented by Miller.
31) On May 12, 1993, plaintiff was retained by Miller as a consultant
working for Michael J.
Mazzoni. Plaintiff has been a consultant for Miller since that time.
32) On May 17, 1993, it was announced that Miller employees who were
involved in plaintiff's
automated in-market survey (AIMS) project would receive the Philip
Morris Chairman's Award for
their work on the automated in-market survey project. See Exhibit 14
attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference.
33) On June 16, 1993, Molson U.S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Miller,
advised plaintiff that
Miller refused to give Molson U.S.A. permission to hire plaintiff.
34) on August 23, l993, Warren H. Dunn retired as chairman and chief
executive officer of Miller.
John N. MacDonough was promoted to replace Warren H. Dunn, and John
D. Bowlin was named
president of Miller replacing John N. MacDonough. See Exhibits 15 and
16 attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference.
35) On October 6, 1993, Michael J. Mazzoni asked John N. MacDonough
and John D. Bowlin to
authorize Molson U.S.A. to hire plaintiff. John N. MacDonough refused,
and advised that reversing
the termination of plaintiff because of the harassment charge may adversely
affect Miller.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
Intentional Misrepresentation Against Smith and Miller
36) Incorporated herein by this reference are the above paragraphs 1-35.
37) When Miller "grandfathered" plaintiff's position in October 1987,
plaintiff's further career
advancement with Miller was foreclosed.
38) In October 1987, when the sales administrative department again
was reorganized, Miller had a
duty to disclose to plaintiff that plaintiff's executive grade 14 position
had been "grandfathered", and
that plaintiff's position as distributor and field sales services manager
was evaluated to be grade level
13.
39) In October 1987, Smith intentionally misrepresented to plaintiff
the [act that plaintiff's executive
grade level 14 was not affected by the reorganization.
40) In October 1987, Smith and Miller failed to disclose to plaintiff
that his executive grade 14
position had been "grandfathered" with the intent to deceive and induce
plaintiff to act on it by
continuing his employment with Miller to plaintiff's pecuniary damage.
41) Had Miller disclosed to plaintiff that his executive grade 14 position
had been "grandfathered" in
October of 1987, plaintiff would have pursued other employment because
plaintiff 's further career
advancement with Miller was foreclosed.
42) Had Smith truthfully represented to plaintiff the fact that plaintiff's
executive grade level 14 was
affected by the reorganization on October of 1987 by "grandfathering"
plaintiff's executive grade 14
position, plaintiff would have pursued other employment because plaintiff's
further career
advancement with Miller was foreclosed.
43) Plaintiff believed and relied on the misrepresented fact that his
executive grade 14 position had
not been "grandfathered" in October of 1987 to plaintiff's pecuniary
damage.
44) Miller and Smith are liable to plaintiff for damages for intentional misrepresentation.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
Tortious Interference with Prospective Contract against Smith
45) Incorporated herein by this reference are the above paragraphs 1-44.
46) In October of 1992, Smith intentionally and improperly interfered
with plaintiff's prospective
contractual relationship with Miller as director of a new department
for the distributor performance
initiative and distributor and field services under sales.
47) Smith, improperly motivated, intentionally and for unworthy and
selfish purposes induced Miller
not to adopt the October 16, 1992 recommendation of the Boston Consulting
Group distributor
performance task force leaders, Thomas J. Cardella and Charles R. Teal,
to the Boston Consulting
Group steering committee and John N. MacDonough, President of Miller,
that the distributor
performance initiative be provided permanent status with Miller and
be assigned to plaintiff.
48) Smith is liable to plaintiff for the pecuniary damage to plaintiff
resulting from the loss of benefits
plaintiff would have received as director of the new department recommended
to Miller.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
Tortious Interference with Contract Against Best
49) Incorporated herein by this reference are the above paragraphs 1-48.
50) Best improperly induced Miller to terminate plaintiff by fraudulently
misrepresenting to Miller that
she felt harassed by plaintiff's March l9, 1993 conversation with her
regarding the Seinfeld program.
51) On or about March 25, 1993, Best acted with the intention to interfere
with the employment
contract of plaintiff with Killer by fraudulently misrepresenting to
Miller that she felt harassed by
plaintiff's March l9, 1393 conversation with her regarding the Seinfeld
program in such a fashion and
for such purpose that Best knew that plaintiff would be terminated
by Miller, or that plaintiff's
termination was substantially certain to occur.
52 ) Best had no purpose or desire independent of intentionally causing
the termination of plaintiff by
exerting moral pressure on Miller in fraudulently misrepresenting to
Miller that she felt harassed by
plaintiff's March 19, 1993 conversation with her regarding the Seinfeld
program.
53 ) Best is liable to plaintiff for the pecuniary loss resulting to
plaintiff by Miller's termination of
plaintiff on March 25, 1993.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
Public Policy Wrongful Termination Against Miller
54) Incorporated herein by this reference are the above paragraphs 1-53.
55) This cause of action is supported by a good faith argument for an
extension, modification and/or
reversal of existing law.
56) Miller terminated plaintiff on March 25, 1993 in response to the
informal complaint/charge of
Best that she felt harassed by plaintiff's March 19, 1993 conversation
with her regarding the Seinfeld
program.
57) Miller did not believe that the informal complaint/charge of Best
that she felt harassed by
plaintiff's March 19, l993 conversation with he' regarding the Seinfeld
program was cause to
terminate plaintiff.
58) Miller believed that the termination of plaintiff was necessary
to avoid or limit Miller from future
liability for complaints/charges of harassment.
59) An employee terminated because of mere allegations of harassment
is foreclosed from securing
substantially similar employment .
60) An employer cannot be held to have notice of unlawful harassment
of an employee where the
employer conducts a good faith investigation of previous alleged complaints/charges
of unlawful
harassment by the employee, and reasonably concludes in good faith
that such allegations are untrue,
unfounded or unsubstantiated.
61) It is the policy of the state of Wisconsin that an employee cannot
be terminated where the
employer conducts a good faith investigation of a complaint/charge
of unlawful harassment by the
employee, and reasonably concludes in good faith that such allegations
are untrue, unfounded or
unsubstantiated.
62) Miller breached an implied contract provision with plaintiff that
Miller will not discharge plaintiff
on a harassment complaint/charge for which Miller cannot be held liable.
63) Miller is liable to plaintiff for the pecuniary loss resulting to
plaintiff by Miller's termination of
plaintiff on March 25, 1993.
WHEREFORE, plaintiff demands judgment against defendants, jointly and severally, as follows:
A) Pecuniary damages to be determined at trial;
B) Punitive damages;
C) Costs, disbursements and attorney fees, and such other relief as
the court may deem just and
proper.
Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this____ 1994.
GERALD P. BOYLE, S.C. and
LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL A.I. WHITCOMB
Attorneys for Plaintiff
By:______
Gerald P. Boyle State Bar No.
By:____________
Michael A.I. Whitcomb
State Bar No. 1016561
P.O. ADDRESS
Gerald P. Boyle, S.C.
1124 West Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
414-271-1717
Law Offices of Michael A.I. Whitcomb
Suite 510
633 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203-1918
414-277-8384
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Last revised September 25, 1997