Contracts Commons^™

Zambia Electronic Clearing House Limited V. James Kalengo Caz Appeal No. 239 Of 2020, Chanda Chungu

SAIPAR Case Review

The Court of Appeal’s decision in James Kalengo is crucial because it demonstrates that the concept of a legitimate expectation of renewal, as a principle and concept exists under Zambian employment law. Whilst an employer does retain the discretion to renew a contract of employment or not when it is due to expire, an employee may have a legitimate expectation of renewal if there is any past practice, prior promise or bad faith/mala fides in relation to the renewal.

Mark Tink And Others V. Lumwana Mining Company Limited Caz Appeal No. 41/2021, Chanda Chungu

SAIPAR Case Review

The decision in Mark Tink and Others v. Lumwana Mining Company Limited is an important decision because it clarifies and restates that law that a valid reason, that is substantiated is required when an employer initiates termination of the contract of employment.

This article critiques the approach of the Court of Appeal as it relates to the award of damages. This article seeks to provide clarity as it relates to the award of damages, particularly the way is granted and justified. It is suggested that when the opportunity arises either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court should revise …

Standard Chartered Bank Plc V Celine Meena Nair [2019] Zmca 221, Ntemena Mwanamwambwa, Milambo Chibbonta-Pupwe

SAIPAR Case Review

This case is one of a kind and therefore significant for several reasons in the jurisprudence of Zambian Employment Law. The case highlights that the employer-employee relationship is one founded on the implied term of mutual trust and confidence which entails that both parties must accord each other due trust and respect regardless of status.

The decision in this case, sets a clear and stern tone in cases of constructive dismissal bordering on toxicity within the working environment. Thus, employers are put on notice to adhere to their own grievance procedures particularly in cases involving bullying, harassment and victimization such …

Charles Mushitu (Sued In His Capacity As Secretary-General Of Zambia Red Cross Society) V. Christabel M. Kaumba Scz Appeal No. 122/2015, Chanda Chungu

SAIPAR Case Review

An employee worked under a project that terminated and was then placed on unpaid leave for almost nine (9) months when she was appointed to another post in another town, Choma. The issue here was does the employee have any relief for being unpaid for the 9-month period?

The Supreme Court held that the employers conduct amounted to a fundamental breach of contract when the employee was placed on unpaid, forced, indefinite leave. Therefore, due to their failure to pay the employee whilst he was still an employee, the employer not only breached the duty to pay wages, which constitutes …

Rabson Sikombe V. Access Bank (Zambia) Limited Scz Appeal No. 240/2013, Chanda Chungu

SAIPAR Case Review

The employee was employed as a Transaction Officer with effect from the 17th of November 2008. He was suspended from duty on the 15th of May, 2009 following an investigation into the sum of K804 million, unauthorized overdraft on an account held in the respondent's Bank by a company called ZCON,it being alleged that the appellant failed to manage the credit portfolio by not constantly reviewing the overdrawn account, leading to the customer's overdrawn position exceeding the approved limit of K350 million.

It was further alleged that the employee had provided false information that the client had an approved facility …

Prof. E. Clive Chirwa V Zambia Railway & Another (2018/Hp/0578), Kayula James

SAIPAR Case Review

No abstract provided.

The Supreme Court’S Application Of 'Ordinary Contract Principles' To The Issue Of The Duration Of Retiree Healthcare Benefits: Perpetuating The Interpretation/Gap-Filling Quagmire, Robert A. Hillman

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

The United States Supreme Court purported to apply "ordinary contract principles" in its decision reversing the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in M&G Polymers USA v. Tackett . The Sixth Circuit had held that plaintiffs, retired employees of M&G, were entitled to lifetime healthcare benefits under their union's agreement with M&G. According to the Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit wrongly relied on a false set of "inferences" established in International Union v. Yard-Man, Inc. to find that "in the absence of extrinsic evidence to the contrary, the provisions of [the collective bargaining agreement] indicated an intent to vest …

Drafting Chapter 2 Of The Ali's Employment Law Restatement In The Shadow Of Contract Law: An Assessment Of The Challenges And Results, Robert A. Hillman

Cornell Law Faculty Working Papers

The American Law Institute (ALI) has just completed the Restatement of the Law Third, Employment Law. Chapter 2 is entitled "Employment Contracts: Termination." As the name suggests, the Chapter focuses on the law's difficult challenge of applying contract law to distinguish lawful terminations of employees from wrongful ones. The question is especially problematic because, on the one hand, employment law's long-existing default rule allows employers to terminate employees "at will" and without cause. Advocates of the at-will doctrine present several policies to support it, including freedom of contract and efficiency. On the other hand, employers seek to attract talented employees …

Knowledge At Work: Disputes Over The Ownership Of Human Capital In The Changing Workplace, Katherine V.W. Stone

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Employee Representation In The Boundaryless Workplace, Katherine V.W. Stone

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Unfulfilled Promise Of Promissory Estoppel In The Employment Setting, Robert A. Hillman

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

Although the theory of promissory estoppel enforces promises that induce reasonable detrimental reliance, this article reveals the theory's colossal failure in the non-union employment setting. This conclusion is based on an examination of all of the reported decisions in the United States that discussed promissory estoppel over a two-year period in the mid 1990's. During this period, employees won only 4.23 percent of employment promissory estoppel cases decided on the merits. At first blush, this is very surprising because employers, through their communications, seek to create the expectation of a stable, secure work environment and employees, because of their lack …

The Employment Contract, Ian Ayres, Stewart J. Schwab

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

This article consists of Professors Ian Ayres and Stewart Schwab 's presentation given at the Economic Analysis of State Employment Law Issues Symposium. Following the presentation, audience members and the presenters participated in a discussion concerning employment contracts. The Journal staff and Professors Ayres and Schwab compiled and edited some of these questions and responses.

Policing Employment Contracts Within The Nexus-Of-Contracts Firm, Katherine V.W. Stone

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Legacy Of Industrial Pluralism: The Tension Between Individual Employment Rights And The New Deal Collective Bargaining System, Katherine V.W. Stone

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.