Firing of Casino Worker Who Faked Injury Upheld

(CN) - A casino employee who faked an injury on camera was properly fired for horseplay, the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled.

Brett Carter worked at the Prairie Meadows casino as a surveillance agent. He deliberately fell down in the elevator and pretended to hurt himself.

Carter then went back to work and watched his performance on the security video. He was suspended and later fired for violating the casino's rule against horseplay.

Carter sued the casino, alleging that he was wrongfully fired in violation of public policy.

The trial court ruled for the casino, and the state appeals court affirmed.

"There is no ... clearly defined and well recognized public policy that would be undermined by (Carter's) dismissal," Judge Robert Mahan wrote. "Because Carter has not satisfied the first element of a wrongful discharge action, the existence of a clearly defined public policy that protects an activity, he is unable to prove his claims of wrongful discharge."

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