Lindsay Cader

The appellants appealed a trial judgment awarding the respondents $1,173,960 in compensatory damages and $150,000 in punitive damages for breach of a construction management contract.

The respondent had worked for 17 months without pay before being abruptly terminated on the eve of his entitlement to substantial compensation.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, finding that the trial judge correctly interpreted the contract to assess damages, properly declined to consider mitigation as it was not pleaded, and appropriately awarded punitive damages given the appellant's reprehensible conduct.

The appellants appealed a trial judgment ordering them to repay $47,000 improperly withdrawn from a letter of credit and $7,786.56 for cleaning and grading costs.

The respondents cross-appealed the dismissal of their claim for an alleged overpayment of interest on a vendor take-back mortgage.

The Court of Appeal dismissed both the appeal and the cross-appeal, finding no palpable and overriding error in the trial judge's conclusions regarding the letter of credit draw, issue estoppel, or the mortgage interest payments.