Ontario Severance

D. v. Hughes Containers Ltd.

2014 ONSC 6796 (CanLII)Ontario Superior Court of JusticeDecided Wrongful dismissal

Wrongful Dismissal: 14-Year Employee Awarded 12 Months Notice

Summary

This wrongful dismissal case involved a 64-year-old plaintiff with 14 years of service as an Accounts Receivable/Payroll Administrator who was terminated without cause. The court applied the Bardal factors to determine a reasonable notice period of 12 months, rejecting the plaintiff's claim for 22 months. The court awarded damages for the 10 months elapsed since trial and structured the payment for the remaining two months contingent on the plaintiff's mitigation efforts, finding his evidence of inability to re-employ insufficient to warrant immediate lump-sum payment for the full period.

Outcome

Plaintiff awarded 12 months' notice; damages structured with 10 months paid immediately and 2 months deferred subject to mitigation.

Award

12 months' notice; damages for 10 months awarded immediately; payment for remaining 2 months structured subject to mitigation and statutory deductions.

Key Factors

  • reasonable notice
  • Bardal factors
  • duty to mitigate
  • structured damages
  • wrongful dismissal

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More Ontario employment decisions from 2014

This summary was written by AI from the published decision and its headnote. It is not an official version of the decision; read the full text on CanLII before relying on it. This is legal information, not legal advice. Ontario Severance is an educational tool. If you are facing a serious employment law matter, consult with a qualified employment lawyer in Ontario.