Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 62/10
Determination date 12 February 2010
Member A Dumbleton
Representation D Organ ; M O'Brien
Location Auckland
Parties Evolution E-Business Ltd v Smith
Summary PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Application for removal to Employment Court – Respondent sought entire matter removed to Court – Applicant sought respondent’s compliance with employment agreement (“EA”), inquiry into damages, and penalties for breaches of EA – Applicant opposed removal arguing no grounds present under s178(2)(a) Employment Relations Act 2000 (“ERA”) to allow removal – Authority previously declined applicant’s request for adjournment – Authority noted time of the essence with compliance applications more than other remedies – Authority noted unfortunate removal application being determined on eve of investigation meeting – Found application for removal of greater inconvenience when made closer to investigation meeting - Found ground for removal under s178(2)(d) ERA not present – Found premature to raise questions of law as being likely to arise other than incidentally – Found test under s178(2)(a) ERA was not complexity of legal issues but importance of legal issues – Found contended questions of law too remote to be considered to satisfy test under s178(2)(a) ERA – Found respondent’s actions appeared to be inconsistent with actions of party that had cancelled EA – Application for removal declined
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Practice & Procedure
Statutes Contractual Remedies Act 1979 s7;ERA s134;ERA s157(3);ERA s178;ERA s178(2);ERA s178(2)(a);ERA s178(2)(d)
Cases Cited General Billposting Ltd v Atkinson [1909] AC 118
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: aa 62_10.pdf [pdf 23 KB]