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"Greatly exaggerated" reimbursement claims weren't simply an "innocent error", but rather part of an employee's sophisticated process to derive a financial benefit he wasn't entitled to, the Federal Circuit Court has found.

This conduct was incompatible with the implied duties of fidelity and good faith under his employment contract, and justified his summary dismissal, Judge Jonathan Forbes said.

The Melbourne Water works coordinator initially lodged a general protections dismissal claim, arguing he was sacked in February last year because he'd enquired or complained about having to use his personal vehicle at work and the process for claiming expenses for his travel, among other things.

He later amended his claim to include breach of contract allegations, arguing that he didn't engage in serious misconduct and therefore the employer had no right to summarily dismiss him...