2015-Ģ��ƵAT-599

Ģ��ƵAT Held or Ģ��ƵDT Pronouncements

Ģ��ƵAT considered an appeal by the Secretary-General. Ģ��ƵAT held that Ģ��ƵDT erred in law and fact in ordering the refund of the recovery of the overpayments for two months. Ģ��ƵAT held that Ms Ten Have was aware of the overpayment in April 2013 and therefore, the general rule of Section 3. 1 of ST/AI//2009/1 was applicable and the recovery of the two months overpayments was not excessive since the limit of two years could not be applied due to the staff member��s awareness of the overpayments as of April 2013, regardless of her previous ignorance or bona fide. Ģ��ƵAT also held that as no request for compensation for distress was made, Ģ��ƵDT lacked jurisdiction to award moral compensation sua sponte and that, even if the compensation had been requested, it would not have been awarded in the instant case as the notification and recovery process did not cause any injury to Ms Ten Have��s rights as a staff member. Ģ��ƵAT upheld the appeal and vacated the Ģ��ƵDT judgment.

Decision Contested or Judgment/Order Appealed

Ms Ten Have contested the decision to recover overpayments of a monthly residential security allowance (MRSA). Ģ��ƵDT upheld the decision, however, it ordered the refund of the recovery for the first two months of overpayment as opposed to the overpayment in full, and awarded moral damages.

Legal Principle(s)

Ģ��ƵDT lacks jurisdiction to award moral compensation sua sponte without a claim or request having been made.

Outcome

Appeal granted

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The judgment summaries were generally prepared in English. They were translated into French and are being reviewed for accuracy of the translation.

Applicants/Appellants

Ten Have

Entity

Case Number(s)

Tribunal

Registry

Date of Judgement