What is the definition of Gross Negligence in the law?  The only information I have itr is found at Wikipedia under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_negligence.  But is this correct in refering to Labour Law in South Africa?

"Gross negligence is a legal concept which means serious carelessness. Negligence is the opposite of diligence, or being careful. The standard of ordinary negligence is what conduct one expects from the proverbial "reasonable person". By analogy, if somebody has been grossly negligent, that means they have fallen so far below the ordinary standard of care that one can expect, to warrant the label of being "gross". Prosser and Keetondescribe gross negligence as being "the want of even slight or scant care", and note it as having been described as a lack of care that even a careless person would use. They further note that while some jurisdictions equate gross negligence with recklessness in terms of culpability, most simply differentiate it from simple negligence in terms of degree.^[1]"

How can one prove that I have committed Gross negligence in that I co-sign a wage cheques, which I have signed for thousands of employees over years of service and because the other co-signature is facing charges, they are now questioning the employment of this employee and now I am facing charges of Gross Negligence because I co-signed a cheques which is in dispute?  There are more than 80 employees with the same surname scattered all over the courtry of which I know non of them, however, the capturers received signed timesheets with correct documentation and processed it according to company procedures, yet because I co-signed it and an authorised co-signer, I am facing "Gross Negligence".  I already know the answer to this absurb charge, but just in case I think I'm too smart, can they sneakily come up with a sidewinder tactic to make the charge stick?

PS I have MANY years service and have hear that they are trying to find dirt on people that they don't want to retrenchment in order not to pay out retrenchment packages.  So, I would appreciate it if I could be aware of any underhanded tactics that they can use under "Gross Negligence" that I should be aware of to counter.

PSS If they don't get it right, the suspension is lifted and the charge is struck off, can the company either, A. bring new charges, or B. start the comtemplated retrenchment process?  What protection do I have when, and I say so with conviction, they fail with this bogus charge?  DE is shortly to happen.