24 Apr 2023

Blomme v Princeton Standard Pellet Corporation

Firms involved

Not specified, Harris & Company LLP

Plaintiff

Karen Blomme
Law Firm
Not specified
Lawyer(s)

D. Balkaran

A. Wilson

Defendant

Princeton Standard Pellet Corporation
Law Firm
Harris & Company LLP
Lawyer(s)

David Penner

Meg E. Monteith

  • Background: Karen Blomme, after over 20 years of employment, was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic from Princeton Standard Pellet Corporation, which led to a legal dispute over wrongful dismissal.
  • Facts: Blomme was laid off in April 2020, during the pandemic. There was a dispute about whether the layoff was requested by Blomme. The company extended her benefits but did not recall her to work, leading to Blomme initiating legal action.
  • Issues/Main Discussion: The case focused on the definition of termination, the reasonable notice period Blomme was entitled to, and her efforts to mitigate damages.
  • Ruling: The court did not find Blomme’s evidence reliable, particularly regarding her mitigation efforts. The court determined a reasonable notice period for Blomme to be between 15 and 16 months, considering her age, length of service, and the availability of similar employment.
  • Amount Awarded: Specific monetary awards were not detailed in the summary provided, focusing instead on the calculation of the reasonable notice period.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

Case Number

S211609

Practice Area

Labour & Employment Law

Amount

Winner

Defendant

Trial Start Date

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