Susanna Ma v Expeditors International Pty Ltd; Susanna Ma v Expeditors Pty Limited [2014] NSWSC 859

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Susanna Ma v Expeditors International Pty Ltd; Susanna Ma v Expeditors Pty Limited [2014] NSWSC 859 Hearing dates: 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 June 2014 Decision date: 30 June 2014 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Nicholas AJ Decision: See paragraphs 151, 152, and 153. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT - contract of employment - termination by employer on payment of five weeks salary in lieu of notice - inadequate notice - period of reasonable notice - whether employees conduct involved actual or potential conflict of interest - whether employees conduct amounted to breach of contractual, fiduciary, and statutory duties - whether employer entitled to resist claim for damages for unfair dismissal.

DAMAGES - whether employee entitled to pro rata bonus - long service leave - calculation of "ordinary pay" under s 3(1) Long Service Leave Act 1955 - whether the amount of the worker's average weekly wage under s 3(1)(b) includes superannuation contributions. Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW) Long Service Leave Regulation 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bell Group Limited & Ors v Westpac Banking Corporation & Ors [2008] WASC 239 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Limited [2009] NSWCA 407 Hastings Deering (Australia) Ltd v Smith (2004) NTCA 13 Hospital Products Limited v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 Jongwaard v Dall (1992) SAIRC 11 Karacominakis v Big Country Developments Pty Ltd; [2000] NSWCA 313 Lyon v IOOF Victorian Friendly Society (1996) 230 IRC 27 May v Lilyvale Hotel Pty Ltd (1995) 68 IR 112 Quinn v Jack Chia (Australia) Limited (1992) 1 VR 567 Rankin v Marine Power International Pty Ltd (2001) 107 IR 117 Reynolds v Southcorp Wines Pty Ltd (2002) 122 FCR 301 Rogan-Gardiner v Woolworths Limited (No. 2) [2010] WASC 290 Secretary of the Treasury v Public Service Association & Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of NSW [2014] NSWCA 138 Settlement Agents Supervisory Board v Property Settlement Services Pty Ltd [2009] WASCA 143 Scott v Sun Alliance Australia Limited (1993) 178 CLR 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Susanna Ma Defendant/Cross-Claimant: Expeditors International Pty Ltd Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: K. Nomchong SC Defendant/Cross-Claimant: A.R. Moses SC; Y.Shariff Solicitors: Plaintiff: Robert Patrick Higgins, Carroll & O'Dea Defendant: Andrew Ball, DLA Piper Australia File Number(s): 2012/277366; 2012/71891 Publication restriction: No