Messina v. Lufthansa German Airlines
This case concerns an appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County, dated November 4, 1977. Plaintiff sued Lufthansa German Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers for breach of an employment contract and sought reinstatement. The central issue revolved around the timeliness of Lufthansa's notice to extend plaintiff's probationary employment, which the Trial Term deemed untimely by applying General Construction Law § 20 to the contract's 10-day notice period. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, concluding that the notice, issued on November 11, 1975, was one day late based on the calculation method. A dissenting opinion argued against the application of § 20, asserting it inappropriately curtails employer rights in probationary contracts.