Albert James v Royal St. Lucia Police Band & Allied Services Co-operative Credit Union Ltd.

Police & Allied Services Co-operative Credit Union (The Credit Union) was the Claimant. James (Mr. James) was the Claimant and SLUHCV 2013/0309 in which the Royal Saint Lucia

[1]BELLE, J.: This matter is a consolidation of two claims SLUHCV2012/0701 in which Mr. Albert JUDGEMENT 2015: March 19; April22. Mr. Horace Fraser for Albert James Mr Ramon Raveneau for Police And Allied Services Cooperative Credit Union Appearances: Defendant ALBERT JAMES and Claimant SERVICES CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNUION LTD. ROYAL ST. LUCIA POLICE AND ALLIED CLAIM NO. SLUHCV2013/0309 CONSOLIDATED WITH: Defendant SERVICES CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNUION LTD. ROYAL ST. LUCIA POLICE BAND AND ALLIED and Claimant ALBERT JAMES CLAIM NO. SLUHCV2012/0701 SAINT LUCIA IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT contracts. neither should he be called upon to pay the entire sum at once based on certain clauses in the loan have to be taken as they are and should not be readjusted to be loans bearing 12% interest,

[6]Mr. James does not deny owing money to the Credit Union but his lawyer argues that the loans his claim is for$ 14,865.44. him on his termination to make payments towards the proceeds of the loan portfolio. Consequently

[5]But Mr. James conceded that the Credit Union could take a sum of money from his gratuity paid to performance. repudiatory breach the contract remains in existence and the party in breach may tender Ltd 1997 All ER Volume 2 where it was held that until there has been an acceptance of a claims. He relied on the authority of the Privy Council in Union Eagel Ltd v Golden Achievement

[4]Mr. Fraser for Mr. James argued that the Credit Union waived its rights in relation to all of these The Issues in the expectation that he would return to work at the Credit Union after graduation. unaccounted for during the period, the loss of the sums granted for Mr. James to Complete studies Mr. James the proceeds of several loans, the loss of sums payable to the NIC, the loss of sums of the Credit Union are raised by the Credit Union. To be precise the Credit Union Claimed from termination. Several alleged discrepancies which occurred during the tenure of Mr. James as CEO against the Credit Union for failure to pay a sum representing three months notice upon

[3]The case before the court therefore revolves around firstly Mr. James' Claim for breach of contract wrong for which the DefendanU Claimant wants to hold Mr. James to account. terminated on 8th August 2011. However during the period of his tenure a number of things went responsibility for the administration and the finances of the Credit Union until his contract was

[2]Mr. Albert James became the CEO of the Defendant Credit Union in 2007. As the CEO James had addition the Credit Union does not differentiate between the sum that should have been deducted may have been mistaken but that there was no intention to cause loss to the Credit Union. In

[12]On the matter of the sums due toNIC Mr. James' counsel argues that Mr. James held a view which for the alleged breaches until he was dismissed. of the breaches for which Mr. James was not unequivocally told that he was going to be penalized the time no disciplinary action was threatened. I therefore agree that this is a clear case of waiver these matters until about 2009 when they drew certain discrepancies to his attention. However at made a number of managerial errors during his tenure of office. The Credit Union did nothing about

[11]There were several citation provided on the issue of waiver. It is clear on the facts that Mr. James breaches. Again Union Eagle v Golden Achievement ltd is applicable the contract and therefore he could not be sued for the loss suffered as a result of the said agree with Mr. Fraser. Additionally Mr. Fraser argued that there was a waiver of the breaches of Mr. James was responsible for all of these breaches. The breaches were too remote. Again I Credit Union during Mr. James tenure, Mr. Fraser argued that the Credit Union could not prove that [1 0] On the matter of the losses suffered by the Credit Union due to bad accounting policies of the considered a breach. Without further evidence I have to agree with Mr. Fraser. course of study in June of the year 2011 or months before he was dismissed. This could not be

[9]On the matter of the sums granted for the studies Mr. Fraser argued that Mr. James completed the addendum to the Human Resources Policy of 2008. policy against the granting of the loans to the CEO without Board approval until it issued a directive

[8]On the issue of the loans in general Mr. Fraser was of the view that the Credit Union had no stated this argument. awarded the cost of retaining a solicitor at the rate of 10% of the amount due. It is difficult to follow Raveneau says that he was not going to argue that point but that the Credit Union should be they were a penalty. He cited the authorities with which I agree, to support his contention. Mr.

[7]Mr. Fraser for Mr. James argued that some of the terms of the loans were not enforceable because of 2011 should not be accepted. one to which he responded by completing his dissertation and finally qualifying to graduate in June employment. The explanation given by Mr. James that a letter exhibited by the Credit Union was completed the studies and therefore he was in breach of the terms of the grant and his contract of

[17]Finally on the sum due for the study grant. The Credit Union was of the view that Mr. James never Mr. James should pay. claiming that he was a pensioner. He was wrong and this cost the Credit Union $ 21,044.38 which CEO failed to make the payments for himself and Mr. Leon when he was only 45 years of age,

[16]As far as the amount due to NIC was concerned Mr. Raveneau was of the view that Mr. James as could be recovered in damages. amount lost to the Credit Union as a result of bad book keeping practices and mismanagement

[15]Mr. Raveneau was of the view that the Credit Union had the right to sue for damages and the processes had to be tightened up. after 2009 when he had been told by the Auditor that his accounting and booking keeping during the period Mr. James was CEO could not have been waived especially during the period Mr. Raveneau also thought that the sums owed due to losses suffered by the bad book keeping authority to take the money which he took as loans and to change the interest rates in the process.

[14]Mr. Raveneau says that the loans could not be a matter of waiver since Mr. James did not have NIC. Union should have sought legal advice as soon as the issue was drawn to their attention by the do not think that he can be now called upon to pay on the basis of breach of contract. The Credit otherwise until he was dismissed. In my view as an employee attempting to advise on his position I the payments. Again no threat was made to make deductions from his salary or punish him

[13]Mr. James was not a lawyer and the Credit Union only sought legal advice after the NIC insisted on NIC or a period of time. objection also applies to the other person Mr. Leon for whom no contributions were deducted for from his salary and the amount that should have been paid by the Credit Union. The same were being waived or that there was no loan policy. until it terminated his services in 2011. Prior to this it appears that the breaches of the loan policy something which had to be contrary to policy. But again the Credit Union did nothing about this

[23]It is not to be taken lightly that the loans were granted by Mr. James to himself, which was separately. pleaded so that Mr. James would have been in a position to defend each case relating to a loan also accepted and indeed it would have been necessary for the conditions of these loans to be

[22]Mr. Fraser's point that the interest rate to be applied could not be the same across the Board is way and should not be faced with a lump sum demand payment on termination.

[21]Mr. James had a number of loans and would not have been failing to pay all of them in the same and jumped to the conclusion that Mr. James was obliged to pay the full amount on termination. advances. However the Credit Union in presenting its case failed to plead the terms of the loans little or nothing to stop Mr. James from his rapacious practices such as granting himself loans and Mr. James for the various sums which it claims. It is clear and obvious that the Credit Union did

[20]However having said this I must however agree that the Credit Union must prove its case against his position to the fullest extent possible. and its funds and is lucky that he was not charged with theft pure and simple. He took advantage of properly served by the manner in which Mr. James managed it. He mismanaged the Credit Union Services could be abused in the way it was. Obviously the spirit of the Credit Union could not be indeed that an institution which was established to assist members of the Police and Allied

[19]The court is of the view that the facts revealed in this case are shocking and sad. It is unfortunate had been granted money to take. the evidence before the court which cannot establish that Mr. James did not finish the course he

[18]I have already indicated that I am not in agreement with the Credit Union on this matter based on Analysis contract. However was there specific notice in writing of the variation of his contract? according to a scale based on years served. But Mr. James dismissal was governed by his position is that the employee is entitled to a certain number of days' notice on termination

[29]The contract stated that Mr. James was entitled to 21 days' notice on termination. The statutory What then was the contractual position on notice? the notice due pursuant to the contract. notice on termination. Mr. James was not terminated for cause and therefore he had to be given contract. Mr. James was recruited on a contract which stated that he should be given 21 days'

[28]The court also has to determine the issue of the notice due to Mr. James upon termination of his which losses can be traced to Mr. James. remoteness operating against the Credit Union in this regard. But it has not been proven exactly Credit Union properly and to set up proper book keeping practices. But there is both waiver and

[27]It is true that the Credit Union may have suffered damages as a result of the failure to manage the in this regard. Neither side was helpful in this regard. Consequently the Credit Union has failed to prove its case proper documentation could have been requested and exhibited confirming the true position. tenure of study is not the same thing as throwing a person out of an academic programme. Indeed proper disclosure would have resolved this matter. A letter threatening to terminate the academic

[26]. The issue of the grant of the sums to study is also very unfortunate. But again an emphasis on contributions. This apparently is being said for the first time in 2011.

[25]The Credit Union's Board never said anything to Mr. James about the failure to pay NIC should be better controls put in place but the breaches continued up to 2 years after this. mismanagement. The breaches were occurring prior to 2009 when the Auditor indicated that there

[24]The Credit Union also appeared to waive any breach based on the bad book keeping and the Credit Union notice of attaining the MBA before his dismissal. an MBA. But when he was employed he had none of these qualifications and clearly had not given staff. Under cross examination Mr. James said he was not a qualified accountant. His degree was the policy which was obviously introduced to raise the level of professionalism of the Credit Union did not have had the necessary knowledge and professional skill to meet the desired standards of contract. That fact also affects the notice required. The office of CEO as constituted by Mr. James not qualified to under the intent of the policy in relation to senior staff because he had a written

[32]I conclude that Mr. James could not rely on the Human Resources policy because since he .was "It is also important to note that the Human Resource Policy in its paragraph 200.11.01 states: The Board of Directors hires the CEO and sets his compensation and working conditions. The CEO may be hired upon Board motion outlining the conditions for employment or they may set out those conditions in a formal'contract of employment." contract worker pursuant to paragraph 4. under the Payment of Benefit Scheme. applies to him. He does not expect the Employees' Benefits Scheme to apply to him since he is a II I some significance that Mr. James does not refer to any to any other aspect of the policy which I. precise position being taken by the court would have been adopted by Mr. James. It is also of were the situation different so that the terms of the policy was worse than that of the contract the Board never took a decision to vary Mr. James' contract based on this policy decision. Of course

[31]However there was a written contract in this matter and the contract was not varied in writing. The position of the Board the policy position may be applicable rather than the statutory position. where there was no written contract and all that we could rely on was the implication of a policy used is that 3 months is required not that it is recommended. Consequently if this was a case a dismissal for cause and the person being terminated is a member of Senior Staff. The language to mean that this is the amount of notice that would be given in a case where the termination is not Policy was "may". But in relation to senior staff the expression used is: "is required." I construe. this Policy whereby it would give 3 months notice to senior staff on termination. The word used in the

[30]The salient factual point in this case is that the Credit Union had announced a Human Resource Paragraph 200.11.25 of the HR Policy was never varied. His claim for additional sums in lieu of notice is therefore dismissed. notice stated in the policy but is entitled to the amount of notice stated in his written contract which applied to the contract without more. I therefore conclude that Mr. James is not entitled to the Civil Code if we were to conclude that the "stipulation" of the Human Resource Policy is to be Policy would apply to him. It would be inconsistent with authority and with the Article 951 of the

[36]Under cross examination Mr. James said that no-one ever said to him that the Human Resource 2000. Employment Law Individual Employment, by Geoffrey England, Published by Irwin Law in of the employment contract. See page 239 Chapter 9, Termination of Employment in Individual significance, and has clearly told the employee that the documents is to be legally binding as part specifically drawn the notice clause to the employee's attention, has explained its legal refused to find informed consent on the employee's part to such a clause unless the employer has incorporate it into the employment contract after the date of the original hiring. The courts have include such a clause in policy manuals or other personnel documentation and attempt to agreed to be bound by the clause with full knowledge of its legal significance. Employers frequently employment contract can be circumvented if the court is not satisfied that the employee has freely that an express termination clause that the employer attempts to introduce into a pre-existing

[35]I accept Mr. Raveneau's submission which I think is supported by learned authority which holds guided by what the parties specifically agreed.

[34]Mr. Raveneau argued that the Claimant's contract was never varied and the court should be "In cases of doubt the contract is interpreted against him who has stipulated and in favour of him who has contracted the obligation" 3 months notice of termination. He relies on Article 951 of the Civil Code which states: of employment and modifies the contract's termination clause to provide that the claimant be given

[33]Mr. Fraser argued that the "policy" is a memorandum in writing which makes it part of the contract The Law on Notice ~VBelle High Court judge ~[-/~ that the cost would be offset against the sums due. in its entirety. Of course Mr. James owes the credit union large sums of money and it is expected dismissed, but Mr. James is awarded the costs of the Credit Union's claim which is also dismissed

[39]The outcome for costs is that The Defendant is awarded costs of Mr. James' claim which has been would be harsher than that afforded to persons who were never employees. loans become payable on termination cannot mean that the entire sum is payable. This condition interest would have been waived. I conclude that he stipulation in the loan agreement that the loans would remain as they were and any adjustment to meet the true spirit of the Credit Union's the amount of time which passed would have given rise to the assumption that the terms of the kinds and the conditions of the loans was not pleaded. But even if they were pleaded it is clear that specific amount in the circumstances discussed above since the loans would have been of different

[38]Mr. James has no liability specifically to pay all of the sums due for the loans with interest at any

[37]The Credit Union' Claim is also Dismissed. •