Cohnstaedt v. University of Regina, [1995] 3 SCR 451

Cohnstaedt v. University of Regina, [1995] 3 S.C.R. 451

Dr. Martin L. Cohnstaedt                                                                 Appellant

v.

University of Regina   Respondent

Indexed as:  Cohnstaedt v. University of Regina

File No.:  24146.

1995:  October 12.

Present:  La Forest, L'Heureux‑Dubé, Sopinka, McLachlin and Iacobucci JJ.

on appeal from the court of appeal for saskatchewan

                   Contracts ‑‑ Employment ‑‑ Breach of contract ‑‑ Damages ‑‑ Assessment ‑‑ Tenured professor suing university for breach of contract ‑‑ Damages to be amount of salary and benefits from termination until normal retirement, subject to obligation to mitigate.

                   APPEAL from a judgment of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (1994), 113 D.L.R. (4th) 178, 116 Sask. R. 241, 59 W.A.C. 241, 2 C.C.E.L. (2d) 161, [1994] 5 W.W.R. 154, allowing in part a judgment of the Court of Queen's Bench (1990), 88 Sask. R. 94, 35 C.C.E.L. 186, 46 Admin. L.R. 6, assessing damages.  Appeal allowed.

                   A. John Beke, Q.C., and James Nugent, for the appellant.

                   Gordon J. Kuski, Q.C., and Erin M. S. Kleisinger, for the respondent.

                   The judgment of the Court was delivered orally by

1                 La Forest J. ‑‑ We are all of the view that the appeal should be allowed substantially for the reasons of the dissenting judge, Mr. Justice Sherstobitoff, in the Court of Appeal.  Accordingly, the appeal is allowed, the judgment of the Court of Appeal is set aside and judgment is entered in favour of the appellant in the amount of $208,872.66, with costs throughout.

                   Judgment accordingly.

                   Solicitors for the appellant:  Balfour Moss, Regina.

                   Solicitors for the respondent:  McDougall, Ready, Regina.