Peterson v. Browning

In Peterson v. Browning, 832 P.2d 1280 (Utah 1992), the Court held that federal law, and even the law of other states, is a valid source of public policy: "Persons who are terminated from their employment because they refuse to engage in illegal activities that implicated clear and substantial Utah public policy considerations should be protected regardless of whether the applicable law is that of Utah, the federal government, or another state." Id. at 1283. The Court required in Peterson that there be a connection between the Utah public policy and the law from another jurisdiction. "Although many state and federal laws will reflect Utah public policy, and may, in fact, provide a source of Utah public policy, a plaintiff must establish the connection between the law violated and the public policies of Utah." Id.