Capson v. Amcor Packaging Canada Inc., (2013) 405 N.B.R.(2d) 222 (TD)

• Judge: Rideout, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: June 07, 2013
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (2013), 405 N.B.R.(2d) 222 (TD);2013 NBQB 212

Capson v. Amcor Packaging (2013), 405 N.B.R.(2d) 222 (TD);

    405 R.N.-B.(2e) 222; 1050 A.P.R. 222

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Temp. Cite: [2013] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.023

Renvoi temp.: [2013] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.023

Darell Gregory Capson (plaintiff) v. Amcor Packaging Canada Inc. (defendants)

(MC/1173/11; 2013 NBQB 212; 2013 NBBR 212)

Indexed As: Capson v. Amcor Packaging Canada Inc.

Répertorié: Capson v. Amcor Packaging Canada Inc.

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Moncton

Rideout, J.

June 24, 2013.

Summary:

Résumé:

A 23 year employee was dismissed for cause. Alleging wrongful dismissal, the employee sought $59,513, which represented 20 months of employment less the amount that he had earned elsewhere during that period and the severance paid. The employee also sought punitive and exemplary damages.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, granted the employee judgment for $59,513.

Damages - Topic 1326

Exemplary or punitive damages - Wrongful dismissal - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 7528

Dismissal of employees - Grounds - General - Right of employee to be informed of - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 7529

Dismissal or discipline of employees - Grounds - General - Company policy - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 7550

Dismissal of employees - Grounds - Cause or just cause defined - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 7553

Dismissal or discipline of employees - Grounds - Misconduct or misconduct of business - A 23 year employee was dismissed for cause - Alleging wrongful dismissal, the employee sought $59,513, which represented 20 months of employment less the amount that he had earned elsewhere during that period and the severance paid - The employee also sought punitive and exemplary damages - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, granted the employee judgment for $59,513 - The employer's disciplinary response of termination was not proportionate to the employee's misconduct - The employee's record was not perfect, but the problems appeared to have been dealt with by management - Except for a safety issue, which was serious, the incidents were not so great as to warrant termination of a 23 year employee - While a letter that was sent to all employees had stated "we will fire you" for breaches of safety policies, the response regarding this employee was too strong - Further, the employer's letter of termination was not in compliance with s. 30(2) of the Employment Standards Act in that it failed to provide written reasons for termination - In such cases, the termination was not valid - The damages sought by the employee were reasonable - However, as there was no egregious conduct by the employer, punitive and exemplary damages were not appropriate - See paragraphs 26 to 39.

Master and Servant - Topic 7704

Dismissal of employees - Damages for wrongful dismissal - Measure of - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 7712

Dismissal or discipline of employees - Damages for wrongful dismissal - Punitive or vindictive damages - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8000

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dismissal - Reasonable notice - What constitutes - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8404

Employment and labour standards - Layoff or dismissal - Notice - [See Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Dommages-intérêts - Cote 1326

Dommages-intérêts exemplaires ou punitifs - Congédiement injustifié - [Voir Damages - Topic 1326 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 7528

Congédiement d'employés - Motifs - Généralités - Droit de l'employé d'être informé des motifs - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 7528 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 7529

Congédiement d'employés - Motifs - Généralités - Politique de l'employeur - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 7529 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 7550

Congédiement d'employés - Motifs - Définition de cause ou de cause valable et suffisante - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 7550 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 7553

Congédiement d'employés ou recours disciplinaire - Motifs - Mauvaise conduite ou mauvaise conduite des affaires - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 7553 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 7704

Congédiement d'employés ou discipline - Dommages-intérêts pour congédiement injustifié - Base du calcul - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 7704 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 7712

Congédiement d'employés ou recours disciplinaire - Dommages-intérêts pour congédiement injustifié - Dommages-intérêts punitifs - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 7712 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 8000

Congédiement non motivé - Avis de congédiement - Préavis raisonnable - Éléments constitutifs - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 8000 ].

Employeurs et employés - Cote 8404

Normes d'emploi - Mise à pied ou licenciement - Avis - [Voir Master and Servant - Topic 8404 ].

Cases Noticed:

Brown et al. v. Asurion Canada Inc. (2013), 401 N.B.R.(2d) 92; 1041 A.P.R. 92 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

Jones v. Mudjatik Thyssen Mining Joint Venture, [2012] C.L.A.D. No. 150, No. YM2707-8460, refd to. [para. 27].

McKinley v. BC Tel et al., [2001] 2 S.C.R. 161; 271 N.R. 16; 153 B.C.A.C. 161; 251 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 28].

Doucet et al. v. Spielo Manufacturing Inc. et al. (2009), 352 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 907 A.P.R. 1; 2009 NBQB 196 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 28].

Cormier v. Royal Canadian Legion, Saint John Branch No. 14 (1994), 154 N.B.R.(2d) 335; 395 A.P.R. 335 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 35].

Counsel:

Avocats:

James E. Fowler, for the plaintiff;

Stephen P. Wilbur, for the defendants.

This action was heard on June 7, 2013, by Rideout, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Moncton, who delivered the following decision on June 24, 2013.