Super Retail Group calls ex-employee's argument in workplace dispute as 'fanciful'
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The news: Lawyers for Super Retail Group has told the Federal Court that it is "fanciful" a workplace dispute with the company's former chief legal officer Rebecca Farrell would have been resolved with an oral agreement.
The context: Super Retail is in a workplace lawsuit on the enforcement of an alleged settlement agreement which began on Wednesday.
Appearing on behalf of Super Retail barrister John Sheahan KC said: "The idea that this fraught dispute of great serious and repetitional significance to a listed company, to senior executives, was intended […] by both parties to be entirely resolved by acceptance of oral terms, not reduced to writing, accepted by a lawyer subject to deed —that notion is properly described as fanciful".
The existence of a deal between Super Retail and Farrell is a central element of dispute in the case. The company argues no such agreement exists, while Farrell's lawyers argue there was an agreement with which the company has failed to comply.
The precise details of any alleged agreement have been suppressed by the court.
In April, Super Retail flagged that it was anticipating a lawsuit from two employees.
However, only Farrell has taken legal action over her dismissal, with the case including allegations of an affair between Super Retail chief executive Anthony Heraghty, who is named in the case, and his former head of human resources.
The source: Federal Court
