This appeal is primarily concerned with the scope of the rights conferred on agency workers by and the Agency Workers’ Regulations 2010 (‘the AWR’), which implements the Agency Workers Directive (‘the Directive’) into domestic law. The EAT found that: (1) The right conferred by regulation 13(1) of the AWR (derived from Article 6.1 of the … Continue reading Angard Staffing Solutions Ltd and Another v Kocur and Another (Agency Workers and Contract of Employment): EAT 11 Dec 2020
The defendant had published a set of guidelines for intelligence officers called upon to detain and interrogate suspects. The defendant said that the guidelines could only be tested against individual real life cases, and that the court should not answer hypothetical questions. The objection lay to reactions to anticipated torture and mistreatment by third party … Continue reading Equality and Human Rights Commission v Prime Minister and Others: Admn 3 Oct 2011
The claimants, in the US awaiting execution for murders, challenged the permitting by the defendant for export of the chemical Sodium Thipental which would be used for their execution. The respondent said that its use in general anaesthesia practice meant that it was not subject to control. The claimants said that the export was a … Continue reading Zagorski and Baze, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Others: Admn 29 Nov 2010
The bank challenged measures taken by HM Treasury to restrict access to the United Kingdom’s financial markets by a major Iranian commercial bank, Bank Mellat, on the account of its alleged connection with Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The bank sought to have the direction given under section 7 of the 2008 Act. … Continue reading Bank Mellat v Her Majesty’s Treasury (No 2): SC 19 Jun 2013
The appellant was employed by the respondents working in Germany. Her daughter suffered chronic illness and she wished to care for her in England. She said that the refusal to allow her to return to work in the UK was discriminatory as associative discrimination. Held: The suggestion that a carer for a disable person was … Continue reading Hainsworth v Ministry of Defence: CA 13 May 2014
EAT Disability Discrimination : Reasonable Adjustments Langstaff J P [2013] UKEAT 0227 – 13 – 1607 Bailii Equality Act 2010 England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Hainsworth v Ministry of Defence CA 13-May-2014 The appellant was employed by the respondents working in Germany. Her daughter suffered chronic illness and she wished to care … Continue reading Hainsworth v Ministry of Defence: EAT 16 Jul 2013
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Striking-out/dismissal DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Discrimination by other bodies Local Authority member and chair of a committee, removal as chair – section 58(1) and (4) of the Equality Act 2010. Supperstone J [2013] UKEAT 0049 – 13 – 1107 Bailii Equality Act 2010 58(1) 58(4) England and Wales Employment Updated: 26 … Continue reading Allan v Wandsworth Borough Council and Others: EAT 11 Jul 2013
EAT Contract of Employment : Whether Established – The Claimant worked in a World Duty Free outlet at an airport, selling Shiseido cosmetic products airside. Her security clearance to do so was withdrawn by R1, and she claimed that she had thereby been unfairly dismissed and discriminated against. To claim this she had to show … Continue reading Halawi v WDFG UK Ltd (T/A World Duty Free) and Another: EAT 4 Oct 2013
Complaints were made as to the deaths of six Iraqi civilians which were the result of actions by a member or members of the British armed forces in Basra. One of them, Mr Baha Mousa, had died as a result of severe maltreatment in a prison occupied and run by British military personnel. It was … Continue reading Secretary of State for Defence v Al-Skeini and others (The Redress Trust Intervening): HL 13 Jun 2007
Single Sex Schooling failed to prepare for life The Chief Inspector appealed from a decision that it was discriminatory under the 2010 Act to educate girls and boys in the same school but under a system providing effective complete separation of the sexes. Held: The action was discriminatory. However, the scheme operated against individuals, both … Continue reading Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills v The Interim Executive Board of Al-Hijrah School: CA 13 Oct 2017
ECJ Principle of equal pay for men and women – Direct effect – Meaning of worker – Self-employed female lecturer undertaking work presumed to be of equal value to that which is undertaken in the same college by male lecturers who are employees, but under contract with a third company – Self-employed lecturers not eligible … Continue reading Allonby v Accrington and Rossendale College for Education and Employment: ECJ 13 Jan 2004
The court was asked ‘Is it lawful for a Christian hotel keeper, who sincerely believes that sexual relations outside marriage are sinful, to refuse a double-bedded room to a same sex couple?’ The defendants (Mr and Mrs Bull) appealed against a . .
The Respondent provides support services to adults with disabilities who require assistance on a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week basis. The Claimant was employed by the Respondent as a Support Worker, under a contract that guaranteed her a minimum . .
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The claimants, disabled adults receiving community care services challenged changes to the eligibility threshold for such services.When carrying out their functions, public authorities must have ‘due regard’ to six ‘needs’ identified in the section. Each ‘need’ represents a particular goal, which if achieved, would further the overall goal of the disability legislation. But the authority … Continue reading JM and NT, Regina (on The Application of) v Isle of Wight Council: Admn 11 Nov 2011
Claims for Universal Credit (UC) – whether Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is entitled to withhold payment of UC from an individual who does not have a National Insurance number (NINo) until such time as a NINo is allocated to that person – proper interpretation of section 1(1B) of the Social Security Administration … Continue reading Regina (Bui) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; Regina (Onakoya) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: UTAA 18 Jul 2022
The claimant alleged complicity by the defendant, (now former) Foreign Secretary, in his mistreatment by the US while held in Libya. He also alleged involvement in his unlawful abduction and removal to Libya, from which had had fled for political persecution. The defendants now appealed from rejection of the defendants’ claim to state immunity and … Continue reading Belhaj and Another v Straw and Others: SC 17 Jan 2017
In each case the tenant occupied the property as his home, but was not a secure tenant of the local authority. The Court was asked whether, in granting a possession order in such a case, the court was obliged to consider the proportionality of the order requested. Powell had been given emergency accomodation as a … Continue reading London Borough of Hounslow v Powell, Leeds City Council v Hall etc: SC 23 Feb 2011
Evidence from 3rd Party Torture Inadmissible The applicants had been detained following the issue of certificates issued by the respondent that they posed a terrorist threat. They challenged the decisions of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission saying that evidence underlying the decisions had probably been obtained by torture committed by foreign powers, and should not … Continue reading A and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department (No 2): HL 8 Dec 2005
Disability Discrimination, Whistleblowing, Protected Disclosures The tribunal had been entitled on the evidence to conclude that the respondent’s interim CEO had taken the decision to dismiss the claimant on 19 March 2012 and the respondent’s challenge to the ET’s findings of fact on the dismissal decision therefore failed. However the tribunal erred by then taking … Continue reading Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth Ltd v Mefful: EAT 22 Oct 2021
Challenge to resettlement arrangements for population removed from Chagos Islands. Judges: Singh LJ, Carr J Citations: [2019] EWHC 221 (Admin), [2019] WLR(D) 85 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Equality Act 2010 149 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Human Rights, Constitutional Updated: 27 April 2022; Ref: scu.633412
The claimant’s son had been stabbed to death. She challenged the refusal of the coroner to continue with the inquest with a view to examining the responsibility of any of the police in having failed to protect him. Held: The question amounted to asking whether the coroner’s decision on the resumption should have been affected … Continue reading Hurst, Regina (on the Application of) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v London Northern District Coroner: HL 28 Mar 2007
Sex Discrimination – SEX DISCRIMINATION – Indirect VICTIMISATION DISCRIMINATION – Detriment A father who wished to take shared parental leave so that his wife could go back to work claimed direct sex discrimination in not being entitled to pay at the higher maternity pay rate for 12 weeks after the 2 weeks compulsory maternity leave … Continue reading Capita Customer Management Ltd v Ali: EAT 11 Apr 2018
EAT Jurisdictional Points : Working Outside The Jurisdiction – The Claimant was a UK appointed employee of the British Council, the Respondent, working abroad; he was ‘truly expatriate’ and he was not a civil servant. He was, however, employed under a contract of employment which expressly incorporated English law, entitled him to a Civil Service … Continue reading Jeffery v The British Council: EAT 25 Aug 2016
Police Obligations to Witnesses is Limited A prosecution witness was murdered by the accused shortly before his trial. The parents of the deceased alleged that the failure of the police to protect their son was a breach of article 2. Held: The House was asked ‘If the police are alerted to a threat that D … Continue reading Hertfordshire Police v Van Colle; Smith v Chief Constable of Sussex Police: HL 30 Jul 2008
The claimants had been brought here illegally to act as servants for the defendants. They were taken advantage of and abused. They made several claims, but now appealed against rejection of their claims for discrimination. The court was asked whether discrimination because of, or on grounds of, immigration status amounts to discrimination because of, or … Continue reading Taiwo and Another v Olaigbe and Others: SC 22 Jun 2016
The applicants had had their requests for asylum refused. They complained that if they were removed from the UK, their article 3 rights would be infringed. If they were returned to Pakistan or Vietnam they would be persecuted for their religious faiths. Held: A distinction was to be made between domestic cases involving actions within … Continue reading Regina v Special Adjudicator ex parte Ullah; Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 17 Jun 2004
In each case the local authority sought to recover possession of its own land. In the Lambeth case, they asserted this right as against an overstaying former tenant, and in the Leeds case as against gypsies. In each case the occupiers said that the recovery of possession interfered with their right respect for their family … Continue reading Kay and Another v London Borough of Lambeth and others; Leeds City Council v Price and others and others: HL 8 Mar 2006
Mr Kanu, aged 48, had physical problems, including back pain, hepatitis B, hypertension and haemorrhoids, as well as psychotic symptoms and suicidal ideation. His wife assisted him in taking the necessary drugs, but stress would raise his hypertension to ‘quite dangerous levels’, requiring an increase in the dose of the relevant drugs. An order for … Continue reading Kanu v The London Borough of Southwark: CA 29 Jul 2014
The claimant, of Black African origin, was publicly described as a ‘monkey in silk’ which led to her suffering depression. The company responded that her claim was out of time. Lord Dyson MR, Sullivan, Sharp LJJ [2014] EWCA Civ 855, [2014] ICR D27, [2014] WLR(D) 282 Bailii, WLRD Equality Act 2010 123 England and Wales … Continue reading Agbenowossi-Koffi v Donvand Ltd (T/A Gullivers Travel Associates): CA 24 Jun 2014
The appellant was employed as a registrar. She refused to preside at same sex partnership ceremonies, saying that they conflicted with her Christian beliefs. Held: The council’s decision had clearly disadvantaged the claimant, and the question was whether its policies were a proportionate way of achieving a legitimate aim. They were. The overarching policy was … Continue reading Ladele v London Borough of Islington: CA 15 Dec 2009
Same Sex Partner Entitled to tenancy Succession The protected tenant had died. His same-sex partner sought a statutory inheritance of the tenancy. Held: His appeal succeeded. The Fitzpatrick case referred to the position before the 1998 Act: ‘Discriminatory law undermines the rule of law because it is the antithesis of fairness. It brings the law … Continue reading Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza: HL 21 Jun 2004
The court was asked whether a claim as to acts of victimisation could be sustained in connection with actions alleged after termination of employment. Held: The appeal succeeded. The Act operated to proscribe such actions. However, this is one of those exceptional cases where the court could confidently say that the draftsman had erred and … Continue reading Jessemey v Rowstock Ltd and Another: CA 26 Feb 2014
The parties had a joint venture agreement which provided that any dispute was to be referred to an arbitrator from the Ismaili community. The claimant said that this method of appointment became void as a discriminatory provision under the 2003 Regulations. The High Court found the appointment to be outwith the provisions, but this was … Continue reading Jivraj v Hashwani: SC 27 Jul 2011
The claimant said that she had been discriminated against on the grounds of her religion. She worked as a beauty consultant at the airport, but through a limited company. Her airside pass had been withdrawn. She now appealed against rejection of her claim that she was a worker by both the Employment Tribunal and by … Continue reading Halawi v WDFG UK Ltd (T/A World Duty Free): CA 28 Oct 2014
The appellants owned a guesthouse. They appealed from being found in breach of the Regulations. They had declined to honour a booking by the respondents of a room upon learning that they were a homosexual couple. The appellants had said that they were practising Christians and viewed the guest house as their home, and that … Continue reading Bull and Bull v Hall and Preddy: CA 10 Feb 2012
The applicant had held a joint tenancy of the respondent. His partner gave notice and left, and the property was taken into possession. The claimant claimed restoration of his tenancy saying the order did not respect his right to a private life and home. Held: Article 8 does not, in terms, give a right to … Continue reading London Borough of Harrow v Qazi: HL 31 Jul 2003
Fairness on Division of Family Capital The House faced the question of how to achieve fairness in the division of property following a divorce. In the one case there were substantial assets but a short marriage, and in the other a high income, but low capital. Held: The 1973 Act gives only limited guidance on … Continue reading Miller v Miller; McFarlane v McFarlane: HL 24 May 2006
The House considered a petition by a holder of 25 of the 100 issued shares in the company against the majority shareholder. The petitioner, an ex-employee, had been taken into management and then given his shares and permitted to take 50% of the company’s profits and a salary. Later the respondent in negotiations with the … Continue reading O’Neill and Another v Phillips and Others; In re a Company (No 00709 of 1992): HL 20 May 1999
The parties had cohabited for a long time, in a home bought by Ms Dowden. After the breakdown of the relationship, Mr Stack claimed an equal interest in the second family home, which they had bought in joint names. The House was asked whether, when a conveyance into joint names indicates only that each party … Continue reading Stack v Dowden: HL 25 Apr 2007
The soldier had died of heatstroke after exercises in Iraq. The Minister appealed against a finding that the circumstances of his death required an investigation compliant with Article 2 human rights, saying that he was not subject to such jurisdiction whilst not on a British base in Iraq. The deceased’s family argued that the jurisdiction … Continue reading Secretary of State for Defence v Smith, Regina (on the Application of): CA 18 May 2009
Result Decides Dscrimination not Motive The Council had allowed free entry to its swimming pools to those of pensionable age (ie women of 60 and men of 65). A 61 year old man successfully complained of sexual discrimination. Held: The 1975 Act directly discriminated between men and women by treating women more favourably on the … Continue reading James v Eastleigh Borough Council: HL 14 Jun 1990
EAT Sex Discrimination: Indirect – Discrimination by other bodies Indirect Sex Discrimination – Employment service-providers (section 55 Equality Act 2010) – Students: admission and treatment etc (section 91 Equality Act 2010) This case concerns the relationship between the education and employment provisions within the Equality Act 2010. Specifically as to the operation of section 56(5), … Continue reading Blackwood v Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust: EAT 22 Sep 2014
