Prasad told the Employment Relations Authority he saw Grauman in the hotel lobby, approached him, and then the ex-employee said he was taking Westcon to court for underpaying him.
However, Grauman disputes that saying Prasad asked him about life outside Westcon to which he responded by saying it was great but it was a pity that there was litigation in progress.
Grauman told the authority that when Prasad asked for more details he simply referred him to his managers for details.
The company claimed that disparaging was breach of the agreement and therefore they did not need to pay what they'd initially agreed to.
The authority declined the company's application for compliance orders and penalties.
"I am satisfied that while Mr Grauman was ill-advised to make any comment about litigation his comments were not disparaging and there has been no breach of the
agreement.
"The statement made by Mr Grauman was factual and was said to a person who was responsible for ensuring he was paid any monies owing to him," Vicki Campbell, member of the Employment Relations Authority, said in the decision document.
Campbell said that she would leave the remaining costs up to both parties to resolve.
"If they are unable to do so they have 14 days from the date of this determination in which to file and serve a memorandum on the matter."
This means that the authority will decide on the costs owed.
