A federal judge in Connecticut partially granted and partially denied Yale University’s motion to dismiss breach-of-contract claims after an employee allegedly refused to honor a contract with a minority-owned ice and snow removal company due to people of color working for and owning the company.

According to the court’s Sept. 26 opinion, plaintiffs Todd Howell and N.E.S.A.I.M. LLC brought claims for breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of 42 U.S.C. §1981, violations of the federal and state constitutions, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, claiming that the minority-owned snow and ice removal business entered into a contract with the school and was met with significant distaste for “Black minority contractors.”