Wednesday, 3 July 2019

Frustration of Contract Can be Resolved by Summary Judgment - Does Not Require A Trial

Is a stated “desire” to return to work, at some point, and without more information, sufficient to rebut the medical evidence that a contract of employment has become legally frustrated?

In Katz et al. v. Clarke, 2019 ONSC 2188, the Ontario Divisional Court held that was not.

Monday, 1 July 2019

Court of Appeal Confirms it Can be Reasonable to Refuse New Employment if New Position is Not Comparable to Position Lost

Is it reasonable for an employee, slated to lose his or her employment as a result of the sale of part of his or her company, to refuse an offer of new employment with the purchaser of the business?

In Dussault v. Imperial Oil Limited, 2019 ONCA 448, the Court of Appeal for Ontario confirmed that it is reasonable if the new position fails to be comparable in status, hours and remuneration.

Sunday, 30 June 2019

Thursday, 20 June 2019

ONCA says being being 62 y/o, 37 years employed, and a senior VP is NOT "exceptional circumstances"

Is being 62 years young, 37 years tenured, a Senior Vice President, terminated without cause, and left without any comparable employment opportunities “exceptional circumstances” warranting an award of pay in lieu of notice greater than 24 months? According to the Court of Appeal for Ontario (Pepall, Trotter and Harvison Young JJ.A.) in its decision in Dawe v. The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada, 2019 ONCA 512 (CanLII), the answer is "no".

Monday, 17 June 2019

Thursday, 30 May 2019

Workplace Assault Does Not Automatically Trigger Protections of Section 50 of OHSA: OLRB

Does the fact that an assault occurs in the workplace automatically trigger the protections of subsection 50(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act?

In a case involving a fight at a male strip club, Mazen Jamal Chams Eddin v 938088 Ontario Limited, 2019 CanLII 37953 (ON LRB), Ontario Labour Relations Board Alternate Chair Matthew R. Wilson held that it did not.