In Reotech Construction Ltd. v. Snider, BCSC 317, Justice Fleming, sitting on appeal from a decision of the Provincial Court, found that the trial judge erred when the Court failed to deduct the $9,000 CERB payment received by the Plaintiff from the damage award.
The Court referred to the following factors in making this decision:
- CERB was not private insurance nor did the Plaintiff contribute (unlike EI where the employee pays part of the premium).
- here was no obligation under the CERB legislation whereby the Plaintiff would be required to repay CERB (again unlike EI).
- As such, the application of the collateral benefit rule did not apply.
- CERB was designed to be a indemnification against wage loss and to not deduct it from the award would put the Plaintiff a better position than had the contract not been breached by failing to pay reasonable notice.
Barry B. Fisher, LL.B., is a mediator and arbitrator of both employment and labour relations matters. He offers three forms of ADR based on clients’ needs: Mediation, Arbitration and Med/Arb. Barry is from the evaluative school of mediation and brings his over 30 years' experience as an employment lawyer and legal author to the dispute. In addition to his knowledge of the legal issues involved in these disputes, he also has a deep understanding of the psychological factors that motivate both employees and employers. By combining these two skills, Barry is able to achieve a settlement rate of over 80% of the disputes that he mediates.
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