The High Court has reserved judgment on a claim by a former senior manager with Microsoft Ireland that she was constructively dismissed by the company and is entitled to damages.
Breda Pickering (43) of Knockbracken House, Bishops Lane, Kilternan, Dublin 18, is seeking damages from Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited for alleged negligence, breach of contract and failure to deliver on her redundancy entitlements and stock options. The defence denies her claims.
The court has heard that Ms Pickering spent 13 years with Microsoft and, through the realisation of stock options, amassed in excess of €13 million over that time.
She claims she was "frozen out" of the company from 1999 after she turned down a promotion.
The twelve-day hearing before Mr Justice Esmond Smyth concluded yesterday and the judge reserved his decision.
During the case, the judge was told Ms Pickering moved steadily upwards in the company and at stages had up to 400 employees under her supervision.
She was managing and executing budgets of some $50 million (€42.8 million). According to her counsel, Ms Pickering's role within the company was "seminal".
It is claimed by Ms Pickering that June 1999 marked the beginning of her being "frozen out" of the company.
This was when she was told the US and Ireland localisation divisions of Microsoft were being amalgamated.
She claims she was initially told she was wanted at the helm of the combined division and that she would be responsible for Microsoft's localisation operations worldwide.
