Piggott awarded $600,000 in damages

ARNOLD PIGGOTT, Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to Canada, is to receive $600,000 in damages and interests for wrongful dismissal from First Citizens Bank (FCB) in 1999. Arbitrator PLU Cross, in a ten-page judgment, ordered that Piggott be awarded $100,000 in general damages, $418,080 representing two years’ salary as general damages; car allowance for a two-year period, and $68,814, being five percent interest over a period of two years.

According to Cross, the evidence was so overwhelming that this was a clear case of wrongful dismissal. He said Piggott was entitled to reasonable notice if his services were to be terminated. He said the bank was liable in damages and special damages for such wrongful dismissal. Since his dismissal, Piggott was employed as a consultant in Barbados; served as Minister of Works and Transport in the PNM Government from December 2002 to October 2003; and is now TT’s High Commissioner to Canada based in Ottawa. By letter dated September 29, 1999, Piggott’s employment was terminated with immediate effect. He commenced an action in the High Court against FCB claiming damages and compensation for wrongful dismissal.
  
By an arbitration agreement between the parties, Cross was appointed arbitrator to determine liability and compensation, if any. The parties agreed that the legal proceedings in the High Court should be immediately discontinued on the delivery of Cross’ judgment. Each party agreed to pay its own costs of the arbitration. Piggott, now 58, was the Corporate Manager — Electronic Banking at FCB with responsibility for credit cards. Piggott’s problems started when it was alleged that he failed to act decisively on the arrears of a credit card account of an employee at FCB. It was alleged that the employee’s arrears remained in limbo for nearly a year. In July 1999, Brian Nicholson, Senior Corporate Manager — Retail Banking, wrote to Piggott and asked why he did not report the employee’s delinquency. Piggott said he had spoken to the employee and was given certain assurances by him, and he also took the view that the bank was not at risk and that the debt was recoverable.

On August 24, 1999, Piggott was charged with three irregularities. Piggott replied to the charges in writing, but he was summoned to a disciplinary inquiry on September 9, 1999. The disciplinary committee recommended that Piggott be issued a warning letter and that his performance be reviewed at the end of six months. But after considering the reports of the committee, the Board of Directors of the bank dismissed Piggott. Cross found that Piggott was employed in the bank for nearly 25 years without any evidence of wrongdoing, irresponsibility or dereliction of duty. Cross also noticed that just two months before his dismissal, Piggott was given a new salary of $17,420 a month and a bonus payment of $25,560 for his appreciation of work. Ruth Van Lare and Andre Lessamy represented Piggott at the arbitration hearing. Neal Bisnath and Alana Bissessar appeared for FCB.