The plaintiff, Luis Lopez-Gonzalez, brought a summary judgment motion in a wrongful dismissal action against his former employer, Reliance Legal Services Limited.
The plaintiff was temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later formally terminated when the company ceased operations.
The court found that the plaintiff was entitled to common law damages for wrongful dismissal, as the employer's reliance on Employment Standards Act provisions regarding constructive dismissal during the pandemic was misplaced, given the actual termination of employment.
The court determined a reasonable notice period of 12 months, awarding the plaintiff $47,738.48 in damages.
