英文案例選讀: 勞動者的定義

更好方便大家接觸英語和法律英語，超律志通過推薦境外案例帶大家學習。《英文案例選讀》系列撰稿人Alicia以公司法相關境外案例為學習材料著手，該系列具體包括三個部分：【Facts Material】、【Glossary】、【Holding of the Judges】。

 

如果喜歡，記得文末點擊「在看」支持超律志，並且不要錯過學習，一定要標星本公眾號哦。

公眾號後臺回復關鍵詞「 勞動者」，可獲取本案例全文學習。

一、Facts Material

 

Catherine Lee's husband, Geoffrey Woodhouse Lee, who had formed Lee's Air Farming LTD (the respondent company) for the purpose of carrying on the business of aerial top-dressing, was the controlling shareholder of the company, and was by its articles of association appointed governing director and employed at a salary as its chief pilot. In his capacity as governing director and controlling shareholder, he exercised full and unrestricted control over all the operations of the company.

Catherine Lee的丈夫Geoffrey Woodhouse Lee成立了Lee's Air Farming LTD以從事空中農業。Lee一人擔任三個職位，不僅是公司的控股股東，而且由其公司章程任命為常務董事，並以一定薪資受僱為首席飛行員。作為常務董事和控股股東，他對公司的所有運營管理並非張弛有度，而是事無巨細的絕對控制。

While piloting an aircraft belonging to the company in the course of aerial top-dressing operations, the aircraft crashed and he was killed. On a claim by the appellant against the respondent company for compensation (£2,430 compensation on behalf of herself and her four infant children and a sum for funeral expenses), alleging that at the time of the accident her husband was a " worker " employed by the respondent company within the meaning of the Workers' Compensation Act, 1922.

不幸的是，Lee在駕駛該公司一架飛機進行空中農作中時發生墜機事故，意外身亡。Catherine Lee將Lee's Air Farming LTD訴至法院要求其賠償（2,430英鎊以及喪葬費總和），主張在事故發生時，她的丈夫是Lee's Air Farming LTD僱用的「勞動者」，符合1922年《勞動者賠償法》的規定。

 

二、Glossary

Amend：vt. 修正，修訂；改動，改善 // n. 改正；賠償，賠罪

Contractual：adj. 合同的，契約的，合同或契約規定的

Convene：vt. 召開，召集 // vi. 集會，開會

Fiduciary：n. 受託人 // adj. 信託的

Incorporate：vt. 合併，吸收；體現，使具體化

Invalidate：vt. 使無效，使作廢

Plaintiff：n. 原告

Preclude：vt. 排除；預防，杜絕；阻止，妨礙

Remuneration：n. 報酬，酬勞

Suspension：n. 暫停，中止；暫令停學，停職；懸掛，懸架；懸浮，懸浮物，懸浮液

Vacate：vt. 離職，退位；空出，騰出

 

三、Holding of the Judges

Judges of House of Lords held that the deceased was a "worker" within the meaning of the Act. His position as sole governing director did not make it impossible for him to be a servant of the company in the capacity of chief pilot, for he and the company were separate and distinct legal entities which could enter, and had entered, into a valid contractual relationship, which was not invalidated by the circumstances that the deceased was sole governing director in whom was vested the full government and control of the company and also the controlling shareholder. They were separate legal entities also so as to enable the company to give orders to the deceased. One person may function in dual capacities, and acting in one capacity give orders to himself in another capacity. The contractual relationship was that of master and servant, and a contract of service was entered into and operated and the deceased was a " worker " within the statutory definition.

上議院法官認為，死者Lee是1922年《勞動者賠償法》所指的「勞動者」。因為Lee和Lee's Air Farming LTD是獨立且截然不同的法人實體，可以並已經訂立了有效的合同，Lee作為唯一的常務董事的身份並沒有使他無法以僱員身份擔任Lee's Air Farming LTD的首席飛行員。這種契約關係並沒有因死者Lee是公司唯一的常務董事、控股股東而無效。既然Lee's Air Farming LTD與Lee都是獨立的法人實體，Lee's Air Farming LTD理所當然能夠命令、指揮Lee。在本案中，一個人能夠以雙重身份工作，且以一種身份行事向其另一種身份下達工作命令。如前述關係是主人和僕人間（勞動單位與勞動者間）的契約關係，雙方籤訂了服務合同並開始生效，那麼死者Lee是法定定義內的「勞動者」。

 

作為公司法上最重要的案例之一，Lee v Lee's Air Farming LTD一判例確立了以下原則：即便一人在公司中身兼多職，同時控股、管理及受僱於公司，他除作為股東、董事或高級管理人員外也是獨立於該公司的員工個體，該公司應為其工傷負責。

 

For more: original judgement; follow our subscription and get it

 

公眾號後臺回復關鍵詞「 勞動者」，可獲取本案例全文學習。

更多專欄更新：

英文案例選讀：公司法人人格獨立

點擊右下角「在看」，分享給更多小夥伴

您的支持， 是超律志持續更新的動力