Russell v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Archdiocese of Sydney & Anor [2007] NSWSC 104

Reported Decision : 167 IR 121

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Russell v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Archdiocese of Sydney & Anor [2007] NSWSC 104 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 6 March 2006, 7 March 2006, 8 March 2006, 9 March 2006, 10 March 2006, 14 March 2006

JUDGMENT DATE : 19 February 2007

JURISDICTION : Supreme Court

JUDGMENT OF : Rothman J

DECISION : (i) verdict for the defendants; (ii) the plaintiff shall pay the defendants' costs of and incidental to the proceedings, as agreed or assessed.

CATCHWORDS : EMPLOYMENT – contract of employment – implied duty of good faith – implied duty on employer not, without proper or reasonable cause, to conduct itself in a manner calculated or likely to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of confidence and trust between the parties – employer's right to dismiss where reasonable risk of damage to children in its care. - DAMAGES – reasonable damages in mitigation – costs of proceedings in Industrial Relations Commission – not available as reasonable expenses in mitigation of damage from wrongful dismissal.

Employment Rights Act 1996 (UK) Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Roman Catholic Church Trust Property Act 1936 (NSW)

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