Nickie sues Unit Trust over dismissal

Sacked Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) executive manager Renrick Nickie has kept true to his promise and sued the UTC yesterday over his dismissal. Nickie’s writ of summons was filed yesterday in the Registry of the Port-of-Spain High Court by the law firm Wheeler and Co with Senior Counsel Stanley Marcus as advocate attorney. The marketing and operations executive is also asking for an injunction restraining UTC from giving effect to his notice of termination and treating him as other than continuing to be employed in the said post and capacity until the hearing and determination of this action.

In addition, Nickie wants the court to order UTC to continue paying him his monthly salary and emoluments including the redelivery of the company’s car until the determination of the matter. He is also asking for a declaration that UTC pay him the sum of $1,470,000 being due, owing and payable to him under and in accordance with UTC’s Long Term Incentive Plan. He will further ask the court to declare that UTC is entitled to consider in good faith his application for appointment to the post of executive director, and an order restraining UTC from appointing anyone to that post until his application is considered in good faith. The filed documents are also asking for a declaration that UTC’s failure to apply to Nickie the provisions and standard procedure set out and contained in UTC’s employment manual under the rubric disciplinary procedure, or customary practice and procedure as regards disciplinary action, is wrong and in breach of his contract.

Nickie was fired by letter dated December 19, 2003 because of statements he made to the media. However, he is asking the court for a declaration that UTC’s  allegations against him in dismissal — of his persistent acts of misconduct, breaches of the duty of good faith and fidelity, negligence, blatant/confrontational failure, refusal and or neglect to comply with an unequivocal instruction of the former chairman, breaches UTC’s code of ethics or a declaration of secrecy — are groundless, unfounded and made in bad faith. Nickie said he did not commit a breach of any duty owed to UTC when he gave an interview to a daily newspaper referred to in his letter of dismissal. He wants an inquiry as to damages or losses he suffered by his wrongful exclusion from employment; an award of compensation and or damages and costs, and any other relief as may be fit. Nickie had been working with UTC since 1983 where he started as operations supervisor and marketing supervisor.