Brokers appeal against bullying case damages award

Money brokers Cantor Fitzgerald International were appealing today against a £912,000 (€1.4m) damages award to a former employee who claimed he was bullied.

Steven Horkulak, 39, won the sum, together with interest and substantial costs, at London’s High Court last summer.

He claimed that Cantor’s president, Lee Amaitis, screamed obscenities at him on a regular basis for six months up to his constructive dismissal in June 2000.

He gave evidence that his 53-year-old boss threatened to break him into two and rip his head off.

His QC, Timothy Brennan, told Mr Justice Newman that his treatment went beyond what anyone should have to put up with in the workplace.

Mr Horkulak joined Cantor in February 1997 and rose to senior managing director and head of global interest rate derivatives.

He said that his contract was to run until September 2002 and claimed damages for loss of salary and discretionary bonus.

Cantor strongly denied breach of contract and the allegation of bullying – and is now appealing the amount of the award.

It said that Mr Horkulak, of Mead Road, Chislehurst, Kent, who is now head of euro interest swaps with Tullet plc, walked out because of a long history of stress and anxiety at work with associated personality problems.

Mr Horkulak denied allegations that he absented himself from the office without informing anyone where he was going, that he often had his mobile phone switched off, and that he was frequently absent from work without explanation.