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An employee's dismissal for aggressive behaviour was "a sham and a disgrace", resulting in a "very serious psychiatric injury", a court has ruled in awarding him $1.73 million in damages.

In March 2015, the Vision Australia adaptive technology consultant was staying at the Bairnsdale International Hotel while he performed duties in the area.

Two months later, a manager became aware of a complaint by one of the hotel's owners, who said the employee had been aggressive and intimidating towards her late one night when requesting she "fix" a noise in his room.

The manager emailed the employer's HR general manager and people and culture manager about the incident, stating it didn't surprise her as she'd previously had "verbal reports" about the employee's aggressive behaviour. She also said she'd spoken to him about it before but that he had "always managed to make excuses and explain his actions"...