OGH rejects appeal

Steibl fix rebuffed with lawsuit against Ischgl TVB

Andreas Steibl (archive photo) must now finally back down in the legal dispute against TVB Ischgl-Paznaun.(Bild: Birbaumer Christof (Archivbild))

The labor law dispute between the Ischgl-Paznaun Tourism Association and its former managing director Andreas Steibl appears to have been settled. The Supreme Court has now dismissed the appeal filed by Steibl. The charismatic tourism expert will now probably have to pay back several salaries.

For 18 years, Andreas Steibl was Managing Director of TVB Paznaun-Ischgl and, for many, the face of the place that was considered the "Ballermann of the Alps", at least before the coronavirus pandemic. But in 2021, the Viennese-born manager was dismissed by his employer - which came as a huge surprise to outsiders.

Legal dispute lasting almost two years
Steibl tried to fight the dismissal. "The TVB had a face in the past - and that was my client," his lawyer Markus Orgler emphasized again and again during the legal dispute that lasted almost two years. Steibl had played a leading role in making Ischgl the brand that became known far beyond the borders. Because he is so closely associated with the town, it is almost impossible to find a new, suitable job, Orgler believed. "When Mercedes suddenly has a Jaguar on the hood, the whole world laughs."

Higher Regional Court overturns first judgment
Steibl was initially vindicated by the regional court at first instance. His dismissal was "ineffective". The TVB Supervisory Board then appealed and the Higher Regional Court ruled that the dismissal was justified after all.

But the former managing director refused to give up and appealed. However, he has now lost his appeal before the Supreme Court. "The appeal was dismissed and the decision made in the second instance is now legally binding," the TVB is pleased to report.

Steibl must pay back salaries
Steibl will now probably have to make high repayments. "We had to pay back all salaries due to the first-instance ruling. I have already instructed our lawyer to claim them back," emphasized TVB chairman Alexander von der Thannen after the drumbeat at the OLG. "As the responsible officials, we are satisfied that all expenses will be returned to the association and will once again be available for the benefit of the entire region."