No punitive damages for former law firm associate who was passed over for partnership

I haven’t been following this case, but apparently a former associate at the Orrick Herrington law firm is suing the firm for $100 million, including punitive damages, because they promised to make him a partner but didn’t.  This New York Law Journal story reports that the trial judge granted Orrick’s motion to strike the claim for punitive damages, on the ground that being passed over for partnership isn’t the sort of egregious misconduct that could support an award of punitive damages.  The plaintiff says he will appeal.  Good luck with that.