The plaintiff brought an action for wrongful dismissal against four family-owned corporate defendants, claiming they were common employers.
The defendants argued the plaintiff was an independent contractor and, alternatively, was dismissed for cause due to absenteeism.
The court found the plaintiff was an employee, not an independent contractor, and that his dismissal was a retaliatory response to his questioning of the family business management, not for cause.
The court applied the common employer doctrine, holding all four corporate defendants jointly and severally liable.
The plaintiff was awarded damages representing a 22-month reasonable notice period, less the 6.5 months already paid, totaling $119,860.
