Case in Point

Cognos, a software company, interviewed an accountant, Queen, telling him that a job opening involved a two-year project, but not that the funding for the project was subject to budgetary approval. The eventual written employment contract included a one-month notice provision for dismissal. After the first year, Queen was dismissed when funding for the project was reduced. Queen claimed negligent misrepresentation in hiring. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of Queen, that a "special relationship" existed between the parties, and Cognos owed a duty of care to exercise reasonable care and diligence in making representations as to the employment opportunity offered. The misrepresentations made during the interview were negligent, and therefore the duty of care was breached, quite independent of the terms of the employment contract.

See: Queen v. Cognos Inc., 1993 CanLII 146 (SCC).

In this discussion assignment, you are required to:

1. Post a response to the following two questions:

• • Do you agree or disagree with the court's decision?
  • Explain by providing your reasons.

1. Read all of your classmates' initial posts and reply to one of them.
2. Reply to someone who commented on your initial post.
3. Continue to monitor your thread and respond to replies to keep the discussion moving forward.