Summary Judgment In Wrongful Dismissal Even When Just Cause Alleged

Rodrigues v Fort McKay Strategic Services LP, 2025 ABKB 414 follows a trend of decisions in Alberta that demonstrate the ABKB's willingness to determine disputes outside of simple notice period analysis using summary judgment.

The Court affirmed the appropriateness of the summary judgment procedure to decide disputes, even where just cause is alleged. The decision also reminds us of the high bar required to establish just cause, even where employers operate in safety-sensitive industries.

Facts

The following is a summary of the key facts:

• The plaintiff was employed for nearly 12 years as a Fuel and Lube Technician, which the court noted did not require more than a high school education.