Warsteiner’s former chief sues the brewer over unfair dismissal

At a local court, Dr Gustavo Möller-Hergt, 45, was awarded three months’ salary or EUR 150,000 as compensation for his unfair dismissal in September last year.

According to German news agency reports, Dr Möller-Hergt, who has worked for Warsteiner for 15 years in various positions, decided to take his former employer to court after Warsteiner had given him the sack without notice. Citing “non-judiciable irregularities” Warsteiner had terminated his contract, which was supposed to run until 2012.

Warsteiner brewery has one month to appeal against the verdict, which was cast on 3 January.

With an output of 4.6 million hl, Warsteiner is Germany’s eighth-largest brewery group.

For Dr Möller-Hergt, the verdict is a first success in his fight for compensation. There is talk that it could run into EUR 3 million.