Breach of Contract for Failure to Provide Essential Employment Housing

A former employee sued for damages after being dismissed, alleging that the employer had failed to fulfill an obligation stemming from the employment contract, specifically related to providing housing that was integral to the performance of the duties; the employer argued the dismissal was for cause and that the provision of housing ceased upon termination of employment, which was not wrongful. The court rejected the appeal, affirming that where a contract stipulates housing is provided as an indispensable complement to the work performed, the employer's obligation to provide that housing persists for the duration of the employment relationship, and thus, the employer's failure to maintain the housing constituted a breach of contract leading to liability for damages upon termination, even if the termination itself was deemed lawful.