A Melbourne, man is hoping to oveturn a ruling at Australia’s Court of Appeal after his former employer was found not guilty of bullying despite the plaintiff claiming he repeatedly and deliberately farted in his face.
According to news.com.au, the bizarre case has been brought to the appeals court by former engineer David Hingst, who claims that his boss harassed him in the workplace.
Mr Hingst, who sued his former employer for $1.8m last year, claims that he was subjected to the alleged bullying by his former supervisor Greg Short, when he deliberately lifted his bottom to pass wind whilst he was working.
The unusual case which has since become global news was struck out last April when a judge ruled that such actions if true didn’t technically amount to bullying.
Although the defendant (Short) denies the allegations made against him, the plaintiff maintains that he was harassed in the workplace saying that Mr Short’s flatulence caused him great distress.
In detailed court testimony Mr Hingst claimed that Mr Short would deliberately walk up behind him and pass wind whilst he was working on a wall in a windowless room.
Mr Hingst also claimed that his supervisor would do this at least five or six times a day before walking away.
The plaintiff also stated that he was forced to spary deodorant at his former supervisor in order to cover up the smell.
Although Mr Short previously stated that he does recall such occurrences, he denies Mr Hingst claims that he bullied him but it was instead unintentional.
It is reported that Mr Hingst also claims that Mr Short, made a number of threatening phone calls in an effort to bully him.
The case is expected to be given a final verdict on Friday.