Legal Question in Business Law in New York

Re: Does this mean that I am discharged from my obligation of performance.

It's hard to give a definitive answer without knowing a few more facts. Is your agreement with the University written? If so, the language of the contract will control. If the contract is silent on the issue, then it gets a bit more complicated.

Re: Does this mean that I am discharged from my obligation of performance.

More information is required.

If you have a written employment contract, look for provisions dealing with termination, and in particular, what events, if any, automatically cancel the contract.

If you fall within a certain class of employees, and there are established guidelines and policies, see if any language there provides any answers.

Has the University argued that you are an 'at will' employee and given you notice terminating your position? If you have no employment contract then arguably they can terminate you 'at will'.

Lastly, impossibility of performance may provide a basis to terminate a contract or excuse performance. If it became impossible for the University to fulfill its obligations due to the fire, then arguably there is a basis to cancel the employment.

This last argument may be flawed if the University created the fire in the first place, in which case they have 'unclean hands', but it seems an unlikely scenario.

You need to see a lawyer and bring every agreement, guideline, policy and notice to get complete and accurate advice.

Re: Does this mean that I am discharged from my obligation of performance.

Most likely, absent a contract, or if a contract exists but doesn't specify what occurrs as a result of a fire, you are now discharged from obligation. I would be happy to review your situation in detail though to give you a more definitive answer.

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