Dowling v. Halifax (City), [1998] 1 SCR 22

Dowling v. Halifax (City), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 22

Robert J. Dowling        Appellant

v.

City of Halifax             Respondent

Indexed as:  Dowling v. Halifax (City)

File No.:  25493.

1998:  January 20.

Present:  L’Heureux‑Dubé, Gonthier, Cory, McLachlin, Iacobucci, Major and Bastarache JJ.

on appeal from the court of appeal for nova scotia

Labour law ‑‑ Wrongful dismissal ‑‑ Near cause doctrine -- Arguments related to doctrine not accepted.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal (1996), 152 N.S.R. (2d) 18, 442 A.P.R. 18, 136 D.L.R. (4th) 352, 20 C.C.E.L. (2d) 159, [1996] N.S.J. No. 244 (QL), dismissing an appeal from a judgment of Boudreau J. (1995), 147 N.S.R. (2d) 43, 426 A.P.R. 43, 15 C.C.E.L. (2d) 299, [1995] N.S.J. No. 523 (QL), allowing an action for damages for wrongful dismissal.  Appeal allowed.

Eric K. Slone and Andrew J. Munro, for the appellant.

Mary Ellen Donovan and Joel E. Fichaud, Q.C., for the respondent.

//Cory J.//

The judgment of the Court was delivered orally by

1                 Cory J. ‑‑ The appeal is allowed with costs to the appellant in this Court and in the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

2                 The judgment of the Court of Appeal is set aside and the matter is remitted to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court to determine the reasonable notice which should have been given to the appellant for wrongful dismissal.  We do not accept any argument relating to near cause.

3                 This disposition is without prejudice to the respondent’s bringing any separate action to address any claims it may have against the appellant apart from reducing the period of reasonable notice owing to the appellant.

Judgment accordingly.

Solicitors for the appellant:  Slone & Munro, Halifax.

Solicitor for the respondent:  Halifax Regional Municipality Legal Services, Halifax.