Willis Australia Group Services Pty Ltd v Mitchell-Innes [2015] NSWCA 381

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Willis Australia Group Services Pty Ltd v Mitchell-Innes [2015] NSWCA 381 Hearing dates: 8 and 9 October 2015 Decision date: 02 December 2015 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Ward JA at [130]; Leeming JA at [137] Decision: (1) Appeal in relation to the assessment of damages allowed.

(2) Appeal on liability dismissed.

(3) Set aside Orders 1, 2 and 3 made at first instance on 8 December 2014.

(4) Direct that the parties file and serve written submissions concerning the quantification of damages and costs orders as follows:

(a) The appellant within 14 days of this judgment. (b) The respondent within a further 14 days. (c) Any response by the appellant within a further 7 days. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT LAW – termination of employment – summary dismissal – whether employee exhibited signs of intoxication at work training course – whether employee intoxicated in a public place – whether employee intoxicated at a work-related social function – whether intoxication warranted summary dismissal for serious misconduct in serious circumstances

DAMAGES – termination of employment – whether, if summary dismissal not available, employee would have been terminated on notice Legislation Cited: Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW), s 4 Cases Cited: Blyth Chemicals Ltd v Bushnell [1933] HCA 8; 49 CLR 66 Clouston & Co Ltd v Corry [1906] AC 122 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 54; 174 CLR 64 Concut Pty Ltd v Worrell [2000] HCA 64 75 ALJR 312 McDonald v Parnell Laboratories (Aust) Pty Ltd (2007) FCA 1903; 168 IR 375 Murray Irrigation Ltd v Balsdon [2006] NSWCA 253 67 NSWLR 73 New South Wales Cancer Council v Sarfaty (1992) 28 NSWLR 68 Rankin v Marine Power International Pty Ltd (2001) VSC 150; 107 IR 117 State of New South Wales v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133; 54 NSWLR 526 Tasmania Development & Resources v Martin [2000] FCA 414; 97 IR 66 TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Hayden Enterprises Pty Ltd (1989) 16 NSWLR 130 Walker v Citigroup Global Markets Australia Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 101; 233 ALR 687 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Willis Australia Group Services Pty Ltd (Appellant) Donald Mitchell-Innes (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Kirk SC/M Seck (Appellant) J Pearce (Respondent)