Wrongful Dismissal - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition wrongful-dismissal

Definition :

Wrongful dismissal. A wrongful dismissal is an unjustifiable dismissal of a servant by the master from an engagement for services for a fixed time or, if upon notice, before expiration of the period of notice. The servant may elect to treat the contract as repudiated, General Bill Posting Co. v. Atkinson, 1909 AC 118; and see Measures, Ltd. v. Measures, (1910) 2 Ch 248, in which case he can recover wages actually earned on a quantum meruit [see Cutter v. Powell, (1795) 6 Term Rep 320, and Notes, Sm. L.C.], or if he treats the contract as continuing, he may sue for damages for loss of service and such wages as he has lost the opportunity of earning, taking into account the probability of finding another employment of the same kind and degree [see Brace v. Calder, (1895) 2 QB 253], but he cannot sue for a quantum meruit as well as on the contract. The custom that a domestic servant may be dismissed at any time by a month's notice or payment of a month's wages has been judicially proved, Mould v. Halliday, (1898) 1 QB 125.

Punitive damages are not to be included and the plaintiff must take diligent steps to find other suitable employment, Beckham v. Drake, (1849) 2 HLC 579.