| Restrictions | Includes non-publication order |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Employment Relations Authority - Wellington |
| Reference No | [2015] NZERA Wellington 125 |
| Determination date | 21 December 2015 |
| Member | Trish MacKinnon |
| Representation | L Clark ; A Sherriff |
| Location | Wellington |
| Parties | S v N |
| Summary | JURISDICTION – Whether Authority can cancel settlement agreement (“SA”) – Whether Authority can order respondent to repay monies paid to applicant under SA – Whether SA prevents applicant from bringing claim of breach of good faith |
| Abstract | AUTHORITY FOUND –;JURISDICTION: SA set out terms on which applicant’s employment would end, so not an employment agreement. SA not certified by mediator under s 149 Employment Relations Act 2000. Authority unable to consider any matters relating to SA. SA validly formed but did not prevent claim relating to fundamental aspect of employment relationship such as good faith. Applicant able to bring claim of breach of good faith. |
| Result | Application partially granted ; Costs reserved |
| Main Category | Jurisdiction |
| Statutes | ERA s3;ERA s4;ERA s5;ERA s135(2)(a);ERA s149;ERA s149(3);ERA s151;ERA s161(1)(a);ERA s161(1)(b);ERA s161(1)(f);ERA s161(1)(r);ERA s162;Contracts (Privity) Act 1982;Contractual Mistakes Act 1977;Contractual Remedies Act 1979;Fair Trading Act 1986;Frustrated Contracts Act 1944;Illegal Contracts Act 1970;Minor Contracts Act 1969 |
| Cases Cited | British and Benningtons Ltd v North Western Cachar Tea Co Ltd [1923] AC 48 (HL);Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society v Hagai [2014] NZHC 24, (2014) 11 NZELR 534; Internet Traders Ltd v Williams [2015] NZHC 1809;JP Morgan Chase Bank NA v Lewis [2015] NZCA 255, [2015] 3 NZLR 618;Pain Management Systems Ltd v McCallum (2002) 16 PRNZ 227;South Tranz Ltd v Strait Freight Ltd [2007] ERNZ 704 (EmpC) |
| Number of Pages | 9 |
| PDF File Link: | 2015_NZERA_Wellington_125.pdf [pdf 120 KB] |