Smith v. Western World Communications Corp., (1998) 167 Sask.R. 292 (QB)

• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
• Case Date: May 26, 1998
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: (1998), 167 Sask.R. 292 (QB)

Smith v. Western World Com. Corp. (1998), 167 Sask.R. 292 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1998] Sask.R. TBEd. JN.029

Gordon Kenneth Smith (plaintiff) v. Western World Communications Corp. (defendant)

(1993 Q.B. No. 3285)

Indexed As: Smith v. Western World Communications Corp.

Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Regina

MacPherson, C.J.Q.B.

May 26, 1998.

Summary:

Smith began employment with Armadale in 1969. He resigned from his management position in 1987 and obtained employment elsewhere. On August 1, 1988, he was rehired by Armadale. Smith's employment was terminated in May 1993. He sued for damages for wrongful dismissal. Issues included whether there was wrongful dis­missal, Smith's eligible length of service and damages.

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench held that Smith was wrongfully dismissed. Length of service was calculated from August 1, 1988. The appropriate notice period was 10 months.

Master and Servant - Topic 8000

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dis­missal - What constitutes reasonable notice - [See Master and Servant - Topic 8003.1 ].

Master and Servant - Topic 8003.1

Dismissal without cause - Notice of dis­missal - Reasonable notice - Calculation of length of service - Smith began employment with Armadale in 1969 - He resigned from his management position in 1987 and obtained employment elsewhere - In August 1988, he was rehired by Armadale - Smith's full pension was rein­stated and he was enroled in Armadale's insurance plans without having to wait the normal waiting period - Other employ­ment documents showed August 1988 as Smith's last date of hire - Smith's employ­ment was terminated in May 1993 - He sued for damages for wrongful dis­missal - At issue was Smith's eligible length of service - The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench held length of service should be calculated from August 1988 as opposed to 1969 - A reasonable period of notice was 10 months.

Cases Noticed:

Wallace v. United Grain Growers Ltd. (1997), 219 N.R. 161; 123 Man.R.(2d) 1; 159 W.A.C. 1; 152 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 13].

Bardal v. Globe & Mail Ltd. (1960), 24 D.L.R.(2d) 140 (Ont. H.C.), refd to. [para. 46].

Larsen v. Saskatchewan Transportation Co. (1993), 113 Sask.R. 185; 52 W.A.C. 185 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 50].

Herbison v. Intercontinental Packers Ltd. (1983), 29 Sask.R. 296 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 51].

Hunt v. Cimco (1976), 2 A.R. 514 (T.D.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Moroz v. Avco Financial Services Canada Ltd. (1981), 7 A.C.W.S.(2d) 325 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Wilks v. Moore Dry Kiln Co. of Canada (1981), 32 B.C.L.R. 149 (S.C.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Curry v. Lakeland Library Region (1980), 3 Sask.R. 364 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Looman v. Superior Propane Inc. (1994), 126 Sask.R. 50; 6 C.C.E.L.(2d) 132 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Carson v. South Saskatchewan Hospital Centre, [1978] 2 A.C.W.S. 229 (Sask. Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Ferguson v. Spalding Co-Operative Asso­ciation Ltd. (1980), 9 Sask.R. 303 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Allen v. Con-Force Structures Ltd. (1992), 104 Sask.R. 123; 44 C.C.E.L. 289 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Vanderleest v. Regina (City) (1992), 102 Sask.R. 24; 42 C.C.E.L. 67 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Goulet v. Sasknative Economic Develop­ment Corp. (1993), 117 Sask.R. 139; 2 C.C.E.L.(2d) 72 (Q.B.), refd to. [Sched­ule A].

Klamot v. Farm World Equipment Ltd. (1995), 126 Sask.R. 125; 8 C.C.E.L.(2d) 305 (Q.B.), affd. (1996), 144 Sask.R. 63; 124 W.A.C. 63; 21 C.C.E.L.(2d) 145 (C.A.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Ivey et al. v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2067 (1997), 151 Sask.R. 182; 27 C.C.E.L.(2d) 236 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Gordon v. Dumont (Gabriel) Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research Inc. (1996), 145 Sask.R. 111; 21 C.C.E.L.(2d) 145 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Vos v. Security Trust Co. et al. (1969), 68 W.W.R.(N.S.) 310 (Alta. S.C.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Bernard v. Peavey Industries Ltd., [1978] 3 A.C.W.S. 444 (Sask. Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Eckstein v. Medis Western Inc. et al. (1994), 127 Sask.R. 140 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Colliar v. Robinson Diesel Injection Ltd. et al. (1988), 72 Sask.R. 81 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Moser v. Farm Credit Corp. (1992), 106 Sask.R. 186; 44 C.C.E.L. 213 (Q.B.), refd to. [Schedule A].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Harris, David, Wrongful Dismissal (1989), vol. 1, para. §4.36(a), p. 4-119 [para. 52].

Counsel:

David A. Halvorsen, for the plaintiff;

Gregory A. Thompson, for the defendant.

This action was heard before MacPherson, C.J.Q.B., of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial Centre of Regina, who delivered the following judgment on May 26, 1998.