Court confirms that ex-TAP CEO dismissal case should be heard in a civil court

Lisbon’s Court of Appeal has confirmed that a lawsuit filed by the former TAP CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener, against the airline over unfair dismissal will be heard in a civil court, rejecting the airline’s appeal regarding the court’s jurisdiction.

According to the news source Lusa, in a document dated February 13, an appeal judge ruled against TAP’s appeal, upholding the decision from a Lisbon civil court dated May 2025 when it had considered the “objection of absolute lack of jurisdiction raised by the carrier is unfounded”.

Judges concluded that the legal relationship established between the former TAP executive and the public airline “establishes a genuine legal relationship of ‘mandate'”, and therefore the judicial courts have jurisdiction to hear the claim for compensation, which could run into six figures.

The court states that “a legal administrative appeal from Portugal’s Public Ministry is foreseen for situations when the intention is to “sanction holders of public and political office that infringe obligations”.

According to the judges, this regime does not apply for cases where the complainant considers that his or her dismissal occurs without a just cause, and intends to seek financial compensation.

Christina Ourmières Widener contests the government’s decision to dismiss her for just cause in March 2023 following a report from the Inspectorate-General of Finances over the compensation of €500,000 paid to former TAP director Alexandra Reis which Reis had to subsequently devolve to the airline.

Source: Lusa/Público; Image: Wikipedia