Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 171A/10
Determination date 26 October 2010
Member J Crichton
Representation D Beck ; P Anderson
Location Christchurch
Parties Jamieson v McCarthy t/a Christchurch Tours
Summary COSTS – Successful personal grievance – Less than half day investigation meeting – Applicant sought $4,282 indemnity costs – Respondent proposed $1,000 contribution to costs more appropriate – Applicant claimed indemnity costs on basis of poor behaviour by respondent in dealing with matter, applicant’s Calderbank offer and limited means – Authority found circumstances not extraordinary – Found respondent should not be punished in costs simply because handling of applicant’s employment relationship problem less than ideal – Found improper to penalise employer for simply defending personal grievance claim – Found no findings of bad faith – Found inappropriate to penalise respondent because chose to defend matter without counsel – Found Authority must preserve status as institution which parties can approach without counsel if they choose – Found appropriate to consider Calderbank offer – Both parties claimed financial stressed – Found unusual to depart from daily tariff approach to award full indemnity costs – $1,000 contribution to costs appropriate
Result Costs in favour of applicant ($1,000)
Main Category Costs
Cases Cited Graham v Airways Corporation of New Zealand Ltd unreported, A Dumbleton, 28 Jan 2004, AA 39/04;PBO Ltd v Da Cruz [2005] ERNZ 808
Number of Pages 4
PDF File Link: ca 171a_10.pdf [pdf 19 KB]