Oakley v. Bounty Print Limited
Michael Oakley
Law Firm / Organization
Stewart McKelvey
Bounty Print Limited, a Nova Scotia Limited Company (collectively carrying on business as Rocket.Ink)
Law Firm / Organization
Mitchell & Ferguson Associates
Lawyer(s)

Blair Mitchell

Taylor Printing Group Inc., a New Brunswick Corporation (collectively carrying on business as Rocket.Ink)
Law Firm / Organization
Mitchell & Ferguson Associates
Lawyer(s)

Blair Mitchell

Key Issues

  1. Notice Period: Appropriate notice period for wrongful dismissal.
  2. Failure to Mitigate: Whether Oakley failed to mitigate his damages.
  3. Fiduciary Duties: Breach of fiduciary duties related to Oakley’s pension.
  4. Damages: Entitlement to aggravated and/or punitive damages.

Facts

  • Termination: Oakley, 67, was terminated in January 2022 after 41 years due to the pandemic’s impact.
  • Job Offers: He declined a similar job at 81% of his previous salary and an offer to return to his original job.
  • Pension Issues: Access to his pension was delayed due to the Defendants' failure to issue a Statement of Termination.

Court Findings

  1. Notice Period: Determined to be 24 months.
  2. Mitigation of Damages: Oakley failed to mitigate by refusing job offers, limiting damages to $3,302.76.
  3. Fiduciary Duties: Defendants breached duties, entitling Oakley to reimbursement for legal fees.
  4. Damages: No basis for aggravated or punitive damages.

Result

  • Compensation: Limited to $3,302.76 for failure to mitigate. Legal fees reimbursed due to fiduciary breach.

 

Supreme Court of Nova Scotia
512744
Employment law
$ 3,303
Defendant