Mitchell-Innes v Willis Australia Group Services Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWDC 250

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mitchell-Innes v Willis Australia Group Services Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWDC 250 Hearing dates: 12 - 16 May; 5 - 8 August; 28, 29 October 2014 Decision date: 08 December 2014 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: P Taylor SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment in favour of the plaintiff against the first and second defendants in the sum of $296,650.75. (2) Dismiss the cross-claim. (3) Defendants to pay the plaintiff's costs. (4) Stay the entry of order (1) for two weeks, and thereafter until further order in the event that an application is made to correct an error in the calculation of the quantum of damages. (5) Stay entry of order (3) for two weeks, and thereafter until further order in the event that an application is made in respect of the proper costs order. Catchwords: CONTRACT - employment contract - termination of employment - breach - serious misconduct in serious circumstances - gross misconduct - intoxication - damages Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995, s 69, s 128, s 146, s 147 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Fair Work Regulations 2009 Long Service Leave Act 1955, s 4, s 12 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 36.1, r 42.1 Cases Cited: Barker v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2012] FCA 942 Bostik (Australia) Pty Ltd v Gorgevski (No 1) (1992) 36 FCR 20 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512 Buitendag v Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations Pty Ltd [2012] WASC 425 Clouston & Co Ltd v Corry [1906] AC 122 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Barker [2014] HCA 32 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 64 Desmond Henry Randall v Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ACN 002 818 368) [2004] NSWSC 411 Drysdale v New Era Steamship Company Ltd (1936) 55 Ll.L.Rep. 45 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89 Fox v Wood (1981) 148 CLR 438 Gooley v Westpac Banking Corporation (1995) 129 ALR 628 Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 2 CLR 517 Kearns v Glencore UK Limited [2013] EWHC 3697 Laws v London Chronicle (Indicator Newspapers) Ltd [1959] 2 All ER 285 McDonald v Parnell Laboratories (Aust) Pty Ltd [2007] FCA 1903 Murray Irrigation Ltd v Balsdon (2006) 67 NSWLR 73 New South Wales Cancer Council v Sarfaty (1992) 28 NSWLR 68 North v Television Corporation Ltd (1976) 11 ALR 599 Pacific Coal Pty Ltd; Ex parte CFMEU (2000) 203 CLR 346 Pepper v Webb [1969] 1 WLR 514 Peter Tao Zhu v Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games & Ors [2001] NSWSC 989 Rankin v Marine Power International Pty Ltd [2001] VSC 150 Riverwood International Pty Ltd v McCormick (2000) 177 ALR 193 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd v Lindley [2010] NSWCA 357 Tasmania Development & Resources v Martin (2000) 97 IR 66 Transport Workers' Union of Australia v K & S Freighters Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1225 Walker v Citigroup Global Markets Australia Pty Ltd (2006) 233 ALR 687 Wise v Wilson (1845) 1 CAR & K 981 Texts Cited: M Leeming, "Theories and Principles Underlying the Development of the Common Law: The Statutory Elephant in the Room" (2013) 36(3) UNSWLJ 1002 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Donald Mitchell-Innes (plaintiff/cross-defendant) Willis Australia Group Services Pty Ltd (ACN 006 256 908) (first defendant/cross-claimant) Willis Australia Holdings Ltd (ACN 112 435 079) (second defendant) Representation: Mr J H Pearce (plaintiff) Mr M Seck (defendants) Paul Murphy and Associates Lawyers (plaintiff) Allens Linklaters (defendants) File Number(s): 2013/148638 Publication restriction: None