Background: Karen Blomme, after over 20 years of employment, was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic from Princeton Standard Pellet Corporation, which led to a legal dispute over wrongful dismissal.
Facts: Blomme was laid off in April 2020, during the pandemic. There was a dispute about whether the layoff was requested by Blomme. The company extended her benefits but did not recall her to work, leading to Blomme initiating legal action.
Issues/Main Discussion: The case focused on the definition of termination, the reasonable notice period Blomme was entitled to, and her efforts to mitigate damages.
Ruling: The court did not find Blomme’s evidence reliable, particularly regarding her mitigation efforts. The court determined a reasonable notice period for Blomme to be between 15 and 16 months, considering her age, length of service, and the availability of similar employment.
Amount Awarded: Specific monetary awards were not detailed in the summary provided, focusing instead on the calculation of the reasonable notice period.
