Complaint was made within time limit when the decision complained of was a reconsideration of an earlier decision, not just a reference back to it. Held: In a sex discrimination case, where there has been a constructive dismissal, time runs from the date of the employer’s breach and not from the date of the employee’s … Continue reading Cast v Croydon College: CA 19 Mar 1998
Failure to provide programme discriminated The claimant prisoner who had a learning disability said that he had been unable to complete the offending behaviour programmes because of his disability, that he had been kept in prison for much longer than he should have been as a consequence, and that the defendant should have made appropriate … Continue reading Gill, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 26 Feb 2010
Judges: Lord Justice Mummery Potter, Lord Justice Potter Lord Justice Dyson Citations: [2004] EWCA Civ 923 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 5 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Discrimination Updated: 18 November 2022; Ref: scu.198837
The claimant said he had suffered disability discrimination at the hands of the defendant, a barristers set. He had been accepted as a pupil, but then applied for a deferral which was refused. It was agreed that the set of chambers was a trade organisation. Held: In the light of the rights and duties of … Continue reading Higham of 1 Pump Court Chambers v Horton: CA 15 Jul 2004
Judges: Silner J Citations: [2003] EWHC 3045 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – K v The School and the Special Needs and Disability Tribunal CA 6-Mar-2007 The child was subject to the school eventually declined to clean and change him. The mother claimed that the … Continue reading McAuley Catholic High School v CC, PC and another: Admn 11 Dec 2003
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE Case management Postponement or stay The Employment Tribunal refused to postpone a multi-day hearing in circumstances where the Claimant’s medical evidence indicated that he was genuinely unwell and unfit to attend. There was a history of delay and previous adjournments. Cases relating to decisions on adjournment applications and to the need … Continue reading Beardshall v Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Others: EAT 26 Oct 2012
Judges: Carnwath, Rimer, Jackson LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 1577 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 49A Jurisdiction: England and Wales Discrimination Updated: 09 November 2022; Ref: scu.450112
The claimant appealed against rejection of his claim for disability discrimination which had been on the ground that his condition did not amount to a disability within section 1(1). He suffered from anxiety, stress, tension and depression. Held: The claimant’s appeal succeeded. Peter Clark J said: ‘There was no evidence as to the effect on … Continue reading Kapadia v London Borough of Lambeth: EAT 27 May 1999
The child was subject to the school eventually declined to clean and change him. The mother claimed that the school was discriminating. Held: The mother had understated the frequency of the bowel accidents. The school was not properly equipped to deal with them. The school head concluded that it could not sustain the placement out … Continue reading K v The School and the Special Needs and Disability Tribunal: CA 6 Mar 2007
Race discrimination which took place after a dismissal was not unlawful within the section, since that first required the context of employment, and after the dismissal, the applicant was no longer in that employment. The natural meaning of the phrase ’employed by him’ in section 4 (2) was confined to persons employed at the time … Continue reading Post Office v Adekeye: CA 13 Nov 1996
EAT HARASSMENTUNFAIR DISMISSAL – Reasonableness of dismissalHarassment (Disability Discrimination Act 1995, section 3B) and unfair dismissal. Appeal on grounds that Tribunal’s reasoning perverse and/or in disregard of its own findings. Appeal dismissed. Judges: David Richardson J Citations: [2012] UKEAT 0612 – 11 – 2704 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 3B Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading Prospects for People With Learning Difficulties v Harris: EAT 27 Apr 2012
EAT Deposit ordered. Order lost in post due to the Claimant putting wrong post-code on ET1. Review. Distinguishing Judgments from Orders. Strike-out. Extending time. Judges: His Honour Peter Clark Citations: [2005] UKEAT 0318 – 05 – 2907, UKEAT/0319/05/TM, UKEAT/0318/05/TM, [2005] ICR 1647, UKEAT/0320/05/TM, [2005] IRLR 836 Links: Bailii, EATn Statutes: Employment Tribunal Rules 2004 20(1) … Continue reading Sodexho Ltd v Gibbons: EAT 14 Jul 2005
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTSWorker, employee or neitherAgency relationshipsC was supplied by R2 (an employment agency) through R3 (another employment agency) to R1 (a local authority) for whom she worked as a Senior School Travel Planning Officer, fully integrated in R1’s organisation. C’s contract with R2 was described as a contract for services; it did not require … Continue reading London Borough of Camden v Pegg and Others: EAT 13 Apr 2012
The claimant appealed against decisions rejecting his claims of race and disability discrimination. Judges: Ward, Elias, Jack LJJ Citations: [2012] EWCA Civ 497 Links: Bailii Statutes: Race Relations Act 1975, Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Discrimination Updated: 07 October 2022; Ref: scu.452900
The claimants, two disabled elderly people acted through their sons as litigation friends to challenge the defendant local authority’s budget-setting and consultation processes in relation to adult social care services.Specifically, the claimants contended that:i) The defendant’s decision to reduce its budget for the division which provides adult social care by andpound;17m over the next two … Continue reading D and S, Regina (on The Application of) v Manchester City Council: Admn 12 Jan 2012
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS Worker, employee or neither Agency relationshipsClaim in time and effective date of termination Extension of time: just and equitable DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustments HARASSMENT – ConductPRACTICE AND PROCEDURE Amendment Case management This is judgment on a preliminary hearing. The appeal had no prospect of success. The Employment Judge considered preliminary issues … Continue reading Czikai v Freemantle Media Ltd and Others: EAT 12 Oct 2011
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Disability related discrimination Judges: Lady Smith J Citations: [2011] UKEAT 0007 – 11 – 0911 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Employment, Discrimination Updated: 04 October 2022; Ref: scu.450271
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION Direct disability discrimination Reasonable adjustments UNFAIR DISMISSAL – Reasonableness of dismissal The Employment Tribunal did not follow earlier CMD orders for the trial of issues and made findings on different issues. It did not address time-bar and justification. Its finding on unfair dismissal was so connected with the failure to deal adequately … Continue reading Veterinary Laboratories Agency v Sandvik: EAT 5 Oct 2011
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable Adjustments Appellant, who is deaf, employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – FCO declines to post her to Kazakhstan because of the problems, and in particular the cost (about andpound;230,000 p.a.), of providing English-speaking lipspeaker support – Brings claims of direct discrimination under section 3A (5) of the Disability … Continue reading Cordell v Foreign and Commonwealth Office: EAT 5 Oct 2011
Citations: [2006] EWCA Civ 1508 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Employment, Discrimination Updated: 17 September 2022; Ref: scu.246004
‘This appeal concerns the application of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to the situation where an employer is considering dismissal, or ill health retirement, due to the incapacity of the employee resulting in his or her long-term absence from work either in the past or anticipated for the future.’ Judges: Altman HHJ Citations: [2001] UKEAT … Continue reading FU v London Borough of Camden: EAT 30 Jan 2001
EAT UNFAIR DISMISSAL – Reasonableness of dismissal DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustments Long-serving employee. Multiple grievances against her line managers. Unable to continue working in the same department. Employer willing to provide suitable alternative employment. After long period of negotiations between employer and employee, in order to bring matters to a head, employer gives three … Continue reading South Tyneside Council v Ward: EAT 12 Jul 2011
EAT Jurisdiction – Whether the Tribunal had given sufficient reasons for their finding that the claimant had been disabled. Judges: His Hon Judge Clark Citations: EAT/1043/01, [2002] UKEAT 1043 – 01 – 1510 Links: Bailii, EAT Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See also – Fyffes Group Ltd v Bazley EAT … Continue reading Fyffes Group Ltd v Bazley: EAT 15 Oct 2002
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Direct disability discriminationDISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustmentsUNFAIR DISMISSAL – Constructive dismissalClaimant, working as a debt adviser, suffers from agoraphobia and travel anxiety – Resigns when Respondent refuses to move her to bureau closer to her home on a guaranteed permanent basis – Tribunal dismisses claim under section 3A (2) of Disability … Continue reading Wilcox v Birmingham Cab Services Ltd: EAT 23 Jun 2011
The authority sought to evict their tenant on the ground that he was behaving in a way which was a nuisance to neighbours. The tenant was disabled, and claimed discrimination. Held: In secure tenancies, the authority had to consider the reasonableness of making a possession order, and in situations where it was enforcing a possession … Continue reading Council of the City of Manchester v Romano, Samariz: CA 1 Jul 2004
The tenant of a pub argued that the landlord brewery had an obligation to make alterations to the pub so as to allow him properly to enjoy it notwithstanding his disability. He suffered epilepsy and could no longer safely decorate it himself. He sought to require the landlord to do so. Judges: Maurice Kay, Carnwath, … Continue reading Beedles v Guinness Northern Counties Ltd: CA 19 Apr 2011
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS – Worker, employee or neitherAppeal by an Army Cadet Force Adult Instructor from the judgment of an Employment Judge sitting alone that he was a volunteer and not in ’employment’ as defined by s68(1) Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as amended. Appeal dismissed. The Employment Judge was correct as his factual findings were … Continue reading Breakell v West Midlands Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association Named As Shropshire Army Cadet Force: EAT 11 Apr 2011
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustments PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Striking-out/dismissal The Employment Judge erred in striking out the Claimant’s claim. The Claimant, a job applicant, was interviewed about a competency different to that which had been (mistakenly) set out in the advertisement for the post. The Employment Judge correctly proceeded on the basis that … Continue reading Noor v Foreign and Commonwealth Office: EAT 14 Feb 2011
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – DisabilityThe Claimant appealed against an Employment Tribunal decision, on a pre-hearing review, that he did not suffer from a disability within the meaning of the DDA 1995. The decision was upheld. The case had turned on the credibility and reliability of the Claimant’s account of his injury and its effects upon … Continue reading Ahmed v Metroline Travel Ltd: EAT 8 Feb 2011
Section 24 of the 1995 Act requires the court ‘(i) to identify the treatment of the disabled person that is alleged to constitute discrimination, (ii) to identify the reason for that treatment, (iii) to determine whether the reason relates to the disabled person’s disability, (iv) to identify the comparators, namely persons to whom that reason … Continue reading Richmond Court (Swansea) Ltd v Williams: CA 14 Dec 2006
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION Disability related discrimination Direct disability discrimination An Employment Tribunal failed to focus on the wording of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in concluding there had been no reasonable adjustment when the employer failed further to extend the benefits of the sick pay scheme to her, when they were already well beyond that … Continue reading The Royal Bank of Scotland v Ashton: EAT 16 Dec 2010
The court was asked whether the claimant, a volunteer worker with the respondent had the protection of the 1995 Act in that work as a worker, despite nnot being employed. Judges: Rix, Elias, Tomlinson LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 28, (2011) 118 BMLR 147, [2011] ICR 460, [2011] 2 CMLR 18, [2011] Eq LR 309, … Continue reading X v Mid Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau and Others: CA 26 Jan 2011
EAT The claimant appealed against the dismissal of his application both in respect of allegations of disability discrimination in terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and unfair dismissal. Judges: Lord Johnston Citations: [2001] UKEAT 43 – 01 – 2808, [2002] Emp LR 24, [2001] IRLR 724 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: … Continue reading Callagan v Glasgow City Council: EAT 28 Aug 2001
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustments Tribunal in finding a failure to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 failed to follow the guidance set out in Environment Agency v Rowan [2008] ICR 218. Judges: Ansell J Citations: [2010] UKEAT 0435 – 09 – 1309 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Wakefield: EAT 13 Sep 2010
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS – 2002 Act and pre-action requirements DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustments Claimant incapacitated from driving duties as a result of a seizure – Dismissed – Claim originally pleaded as unfair dismissal – Seeks to amend to claim under Disability Discrimination Act 1995 that dismissal was the result of a failure to make … Continue reading Scottish Opera Ltd v Winning: EAT 9 Jun 2010
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Disability Employment Tribunal decision pre-dated House of Lords decision in SCA Packaging Ltd v Boyle [2009] IRLR 746, disapproving Employment Appeal Tribunal approach in Latchman [2002] ICR 1453 as to meaning of word ‘likely’ in para. 2(2)(b) of Schedule 1 to Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Appeal allowed on Latchman misdirection and … Continue reading Wigginton v Cowie and Others (T/A Baxter International (A Partnership)): EAT 18 Jun 2010
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION – Reasonable adjustments The Employment Tribunal did not err in deciding that the Respondent had not failed in their duty to make reasonable adjustments pursuant to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Section 4A. On a fair reading of its judgment the Employment Tribunal considered all the relevant issues and concluded that the … Continue reading Riley v Royal Bank of Scotland Plc: EAT 23 Apr 2010
Citations: [2002] EWCA Civ 1716 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Employment, Discrimination Updated: 18 August 2022; Ref: scu.441311
Where a tribunal had found unfair dismissal and was considering an award of damages for injury to feelings under the Disability Discrimination Act, it had to recognise the different needs of unlimited awards, and take great care in assessing factual materials.Morison J said: ‘What one might describe as the relatively brief and informal hearing on … Continue reading Buxton v Equinox Design Ltd: EAT 19 Nov 1998
The Tribunal lifted the stay of the claimant’s claim of disability discrimination. Judges: Morison J P Citations: [1998] UKEAT 1004 – 98 – 1911 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: See Also – Kapadia v London Borough of Lambeth EAT 27-May-1999 The claimant appealed against rejection of his … Continue reading Kapadia v London Borough of Lambeth: EAT 19 Nov 1998
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION: Reasonable adjustments The Employment Tribunal erred in law in failing to properly apply s. 18B of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to the evidence and to make the necessary findings of fact about reasonable adjustments: Smiths Detection – Watford Ltd v Berriman (UKEAT/0712/04/CK) and Romec Ltd v Rudham (UKEAT/0069/DA) applies. Judges: Birtles … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Job Centre Plus) and Others v Wilson: EAT 19 Feb 2010
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE Appellate jurisdiction / reasons / Burns-Barke DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION Inadequacy of reasons for Employment Tribunal findings in relation to s4(1) and (2) Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Observations on use of the Burns-Barke procedure. Late taking of new point on jurisdiction not permitted. Appeal allowed; case remitted for re-hearing by fresh Employment Tribunal. … Continue reading Peninsula Business Services Ltd v Malik: EAT 26 Jan 2010
The relevant date for determining whether discrimination exists is the date of the alleged discrimination. Judges: Lord Johnston Citations: [2000] UKEAT 645 – 00 – 0111, [2002] ICR 729 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: See Also – Cruickshank v VAW Motorcast Ltd EAT 25-Oct-2001 The point of … Continue reading Cruickshank v VAW Motorcast Ltd: EAT 1 Nov 2000
ECJ Social policy – Directive 2000/78/EC – Equal treatment in employment and occupation – Articles 1, 2(1), (2)(a) and (3) and 3(1)(c) – Direct discrimination on grounds of disability – Harassment related to disability – Dismissal of an employee who is not himself disabled but whose child is disabled – Included – Burden of proof. … Continue reading S. Coleman v Attridge Law, Steve Law: ECJ 17 Jul 2008
The court was asked about the differential in retirement ages between men and women in private sector employment, and whether it constituted sex discrimination. Held: Section 2(4) of the 1972 Act did not allow a British Court to distort the meaning of a British Statute in order to enforce a Community Directive which does not … Continue reading Duke v GEC Reliance Systems Limited: HL 2 Jan 1988
Citations: [2008] NIIT 3972 – 03IT Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Citing: Cited – London Borough of Waltham Forest v Omilaju CA 11-Nov-2004 Final Straw Act – Non-TrivialThe claimant had been involved in protracted disputes with the respondent. The respondent appealed a finding of constructive dismissal and victimisation. He had attended a tribunal … Continue reading Black v Ballyrobert Ltd: NIIT 21 Mar 2008
IAT A person who cannot meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules is unlikely to be able to show that the decision was contrary to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended) by reason of the sponsor’s disability or perhaps at all. Judges: Ockleton DP, O’Malley DIJ Citations: [2008] UKAIT 00026 Links: Bailii Immigration Updated: … Continue reading NM (Disability Discrimination) Iraq: IAT 25 Mar 2008
The employer wanted to appeal against a decision of the Employment Tribunal but was out of time. Rimer LJ said: ‘that dealing with cases justly requires that they be dealt with in accordance with recognised principles. Those principles may have to be adapted on a case by case basis to meet what are perceived to … Continue reading Jurkowska v Hlmad Ltd: CA 19 Mar 2008
The court considered the relationship between the two Acts. The assured tenant had fallen into arrears, and was subject to an order for possession. He claimed that his disability required the court not to make an order for possession against her, and that arrears of payable housing benefits would clear the debt. Held: The appeal … Continue reading S v Floyd, Equality and Human Rights Commission: CA 18 Mar 2008
EAT Disability discrimination – Reasonable adjustments/Justification1. The employers appealed against two findings by the Tribunal that they had failed to make reasonable adjustments for her disability and against the finding that their admittedly disability-related dismissal of the employee was not justified.2. The first adjustment which the Tribunal concluded the employers ought to have made and … Continue reading London Borough of Camden v Price-Job: EAT 18 Dec 2007
The employer appealed an order extending the time for the claimant to claim disability discrimination. The claimant had been suspended pending disciplinary proceedings, but became subject to severe depression, and his doctors said he was unfit to face a hearing. An adjourned hearing went ahead in his absence, and he was dismissed in January 2005. … Continue reading Department of Constitutional Affairs v Jones: CA 18 Jul 2007
EAT The claimant appealed dismissal of his claim under the 1995 Act. He was a telephone operator injured after a sudden shriek in his ear. They had found him not to be disabled within the 1995 Act. Held: The appeal succeeded. The tribunal had carefully considered medical evidence provided by the defendant before deciding themselves … Continue reading Abadeh v British Telecommunications Plc: EAT 19 Oct 2000
EAT Practice and Procedure – 2002 Act and Pre-action Requirements Unfair Dismissal – Constructive Dismissal On 14 October 2004 the Claimant claimed constructive unfair dismissal arising out of four acts of the Respondent. No grievance pursuant to the 2004 Regulations had been presented. The Employment Tribunal allowed the case to proceed at a pre-hearing review … Continue reading Cyprus Airways Ltd v Lambrou: EAT 1 May 2007
EAT The Appellant is a qualifying body, subject to section 14 of the Disability Discrimination Act. The Tribunal found that it had failed to make a reasonable adjustment in the arrangements it made for sitting an examination. In so doing the Tribunal misdirected itself on certain aspects of law. However, the EAT held that these … Continue reading Project Management Institute v Latif: EAT 10 May 2007
The claimant had been employed driving a mobile library. She came to suffer back problems, and was dismissed when the respondent said that she could not work within a library without the ability to lift, after she turned down a move to a different department. The EAT had found to be perverse the ET’s conclusion … Continue reading Hay v Surrey County Council: CA 16 Feb 2007
EAT Disability Discrimination – DisabilityLangstaff QC R said: ‘The question whether the impact of the impairment is upon normal day-to-day activities is, of course, judged by asking whether or not any of the abilities, capacities, or capabilities (whichever expression is adopted) referred to in Paragraph 4(1) of the Schedule to the 1995 Act has been … Continue reading Ekpe v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis: EAT 25 May 2001
The employee developed a series of headaches. He was off work for many weeks, and the company cut his sick pay. He claimed disability discrimination. The company claimed he was not being paid because he was not at work, the company having exercised its discretion to stop payment of sick pay generally. The correct question … Continue reading London Clubs Management Ltd v Hood: EAT 18 Sep 2001
EAT The Claimant claimed that she was disabled within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. She claimed she was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, which was accepted. She also complained she was suffering from a mental impairment, i.e ‘stress’. Before the Employment Tribunal she failed to adduce any medical evidence beyond certain brief … Continue reading Beales v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: EAT 18 Sep 2006
The applicant appealed a decision that she did not suffer an impairment within the Act. The test applied was correct, namely whether the applicant had a mental impairment did substantially affect her normal day-to-day activities. The tribunal had made a careful examination of the evidence, and found some at least of the applicant’s evidence not … Continue reading Daly v Monsoon Accessorize: EAT 30 Aug 2001
The employer appealed against findings of unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. The employee worked in IT. He was profoundly deaf, but could lip read and read sign language. He had been accused of obtaining improper access to a senior staff member’s emails. During the disciplinary hearing, he had been assisted by an interpreter for part … Continue reading Taylor v OCS Group Ltd: CA 31 May 2006
EAT The Employment Tribunal had erred in its construction of direct discrimination under s3A(5) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as amended when it failed to construct a correct hypothetical comparator for the Claimant who was an HIV+ care worker dismissed because of the risk of transmission to users of the Respondent’s health care facilities. … Continue reading High Quality Lifestyles Ltd v Watts: EAT 10 Apr 2006
The EAT gave guidance on the approach to be adopted in cases where a mental impairment is alleged by a complainant. After referring to paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 of the Act: ‘Accordingly, in general there will be three or possibly four routes to establishing the existence of ‘mental impairment’ within the [1995 Act], namely: … Continue reading Morgan v Staffordshire University: EAT 11 Dec 2001
The chambers appealed a finding of discrimination, saying that a pupil was not a member of the set so as to qualify under the Act. Held: The barristers set or chambers was a trade organisation, but the position of a pupil barrister was not that of a member of that chambers so as to attract … Continue reading 1 Pump Court Chambers v Horton: EAT 2 Dec 2003
EAT Practice and Procedure -and- Disability DiscriminationAppellant’s application to raise a new point on appeal (that the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 applies to Disability Discrimination Act 1995 section 8(3) damages) was refused as the Employment Tribunal had already decided, at its liability hearing, to deduct 40% from unfair dismissal compensation and had not … Continue reading The Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Society for the Blind v Begg: EAT 31 Mar 2005
The court was asked as to who was the appropriate respondent when a claim for disability discrimination is brought by a teacher employed at a maintained community school with a delegated budget. The teacher’s contract of employment is with the local education authority, but the Governing Body of such a school is given extensive employment … Continue reading Murphy v Slough Borough Council Governing Body of Langleywood School: CA 16 Feb 2005
In giving their decision, the court reminded tribunals when preparing their judgments, to make sure the reasons were user friendly. Here time had been wasted with confusion about the Roman Numerals used to number the reasons. Judges: Mummery LJ, Chadwick LJ, Tuckey LJ Citations: [2005] EWCA Civ 133, Times 05-Apr-2005, [2005] IRLR 376 Links: Bailii … Continue reading Williams v J Walter Thompson Group Ltd: CA 17 Feb 2005
The claimant said that the airline and airport had failed to provide proper access arrangements for him as a disabled person. No wheelchair had been provided to transfer him through the airport to the airplane. Held: It was the duty of both defendants to provide such facilities. It was no defence that better facilities were … Continue reading Ross v Ryanair Ltd and Another: CA 21 Dec 2004
Citations: [2005] EWCA Civ 1456 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Discrimination Updated: 27 June 2022; Ref: scu.235828
EAT Disability Discrimination – Disability Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Hooper Citations: EAT/703/99, [2001] UKEAT 703 – 99 – 3004 Links: Bailii, EAT Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Owusu v London Fire and Civil Defence Authority EAT 1-Mar-1995 The employee complained of his employer’s repeated failure to regrade him, and alleged discrimination. The … Continue reading P Lee v Lancashire County Council: EAT 30 Apr 2001
A medical report in a disability discrimination claim should deal with the doctor’s diagnosis of the impairments, the doctor’s observation of the applicant carrying out day to day activities and the ease with which he was able to perform those functions, together with any relevant opinion as to prognosis and the effect of medication. Morison … Continue reading Vicary v British Telecommunications Plc: EAT 19 Feb 1998
The tribunal considered a disability discrimination appeal. Held: ‘In our judgment the tribunal fell into error by considering the question of disability only as at the date of the alleged discriminatory act. We are quite satisfied, as the Guidance makes clear, that the tribunal should consider the adverse effects of the applicant’s condition up to … Continue reading Greenwood v British Airways Plc: EAT 17 Jun 1999
Appeal against a finding that a claim of disability discrimination was in time. Judges: Charles J Citations: [2001] UKEAT 518 – 00 – 1902, EAT/518/00 Links: Bailii, EAT Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Cited by: See Also – Harley v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis EAT 18-Sep-2001 Application for hearing to be postponed. . … Continue reading Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis v Harley: EAT 19 Feb 2001
Appeal from rejection of claim for constructive unfair dismissal and of discrimination. Judges: Timothy Brennan QC Rec Citations: [2002] UKEAT 0071 – 02 – 1812 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Ministry of Defence v Jeremiah CA 1980 The court considered the meaning of ‘detriment’ in discrimination … Continue reading Turner v Scope (A Registered Charity): EAT 18 Dec 2002
EAT Disability Discrimination – Disability. Judges: Nelson J Citations: [2002] UKEAT 915 – 01 – 2110, EAT/915/01, [2003] IRLR 61 Links: Bailii, EAT Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 4 Citing: See Also – Catherall v Michelin Tyres Plc EAT 21-Nov-2001 . . Cited by: Cited – Meikle v Nottinghamshire County Council EAT 19-Aug-2003 EAT Disability … Continue reading Catherall v Michelin Tyre Plc: EAT 21 Oct 2002
The claimant appealed against dismissal of her unfair dismissal and of her maternity related discrimination claim. Held: The appeal succeeded: ‘it does not appear that the tribunal gave any separate consideration to whether the pregnancy was an effective cause of the adverse treatment of Mrs Gbokoyi and, insofar as it relied on the reasons which … Continue reading Gbokoyi v Bennett’s Eco-Inverter (Environmental Services) Ltd: EAT 18 Jan 2002
EAT Disability Discrimination – Justification – This appeal involves alleged errors by the Employment Tribunal in its finding that the Appellant was disabled under section 1 of the DDA 1995 in respect of his ability to perform normal day-to-day activities as defined by section 4(1) of DDA. EAT hold no error of law, thus entitled … Continue reading J J Simms v The London Borough of Newham: EAT 17 Jun 2004
Appeal by claimant against a decision on a preliminary point by an Employment Tribunal at which it was determined that the Appellant was a disabled person within the meaning of Section 1(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in the period 23 November 1998 to 15 September 2000 but was not such a person in … Continue reading Bush v Zurich Financial Services: EAT 18 Mar 2004
Can an employer’s failure to make adjustments to accommodate a disabled employee be unreasonable but justified? Held: The justification under 5(2)(b) must be something other than the circumstances which are taken into account for the purpose of section 6(1): ‘The clear purpose of s.5(5) is to deny to an employer who has treated a disabled … Continue reading Collins v Royal National Theatre Board Limited: CA 17 Feb 2004
EAT Disability Discrimination – Less favourable treatment. The appellant brought proceedings against the Respondents alleging that they had failed to make adjustments to her workplace and conditions so as to accommodate her disability, that they had treated her less favourably for reasons relating to her disability; and in the second case presented in 2000 that … Continue reading Meikle v Nottinghamshire County Council: EAT 19 Aug 2003
The claimant Reynolds challenged the differential treatment by age of jobseeker’s allowance. Carson complained that as a foreign resident pensioner, her benefits had not been uprated. The questions in each case were whether the benefit affected a ‘possession’ within the Convention or the discrimination was arbitrary so as to breach the applicants human rights. Held: … Continue reading Carson and Reynolds v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 17 Jun 2003
EAT Unfair Dismissal – OtherThe employer appealed a finding of unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. She suffered an apparently minor injury, but which led to long standing disability with varying diagnoses. The company doctor came to consider it would be a long time before she could return. She was dismissed for capability. Held: There was … Continue reading Gate Gourmet v J B Jangra: EAT 12 Dec 2000
EAT Disability Discrimination – Disability EAT Disability Discrimination – Disability. Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Lindsay (P) Citations: EAT/1116/00, [2002] UKEAT 1116 – 00 – 2502, [2002] ICR 971 Links: Bailii, EATn Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Citing: See Also – Rowden v Dutton Gregory Solicitors EAT 1-Mar-2001 Disability Discrimination – Disability. . . Cited … Continue reading Rowden v Dutton Gregory Solictors: EAT 17 Dec 2001
EAT The EAT considered the expression ‘likely to last’ in paragraph 2(1)(b) of the Act, and stated: ‘It is always tempting to accord, and is often appropriate, when it is charged with finding out what at some earlier date the future would then have seem to hold, to have regard to what the future in … Continue reading Latchman v Reed Business Information Ltd: EAT 7 Dec 2001
EAT The employer appealed against a finding of unfair dsmissal and unlawful disability discrimination. He claimant suffered post traumatic stress after a fire at the appellant’s premises, and the employer was advised to remove him from safety critical positions. They made attempts to find alternate work, but the claimant said the attempts were inadequate, and … Continue reading Conoco Ltd v Kevan Booth: EAT 30 Jan 2001
The claimant challenged refusal of his claim of discrimination. He was profoundly deaf. He applied for work, and indicated his disability, but no provision was made for a signer to appear at the interview. The interview was re-arranged, but he failed. Held: The tribunal gave reasons for finding that the disability had played no part … Continue reading Murphy v Sheffield Hallam University: EAT 11 Jan 2000
The college appealed a finding that the applicant who had been found to be disabled within the Act, but denied discrimination. They appealed the finding of the tribunal which had failed to identify whether the disability was mental or physical. Held: There was sufficient evidence of impairment to constitute disability. The expert evidence was not … Continue reading College of Ripon and York St John v Dr Hobbs: EAT 14 Nov 2001
Citations: [2014] EWCA Civ 734 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Employment, Discrimination Updated: 05 June 2022; Ref: scu.526421
Judges: Lord Justice Keene Lord Justice Brooke Lord Justice Parker Citations: [2004] EWCA Civ 1751 Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Discrimination Updated: 05 June 2022; Ref: scu.221726
Citations: [1999] EWHC Admin 371 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 20 Cited by: Appeal from – Regina v Powys County Council, Ex Parte Hambidge (No 2) CA 16-Mar-2000 Where a local authority raised the care charges for facilities and services provided to disabled people charging different rates according to the benefits received, and … Continue reading Regina v Powys County Council, ex parte Jenny Diane Hambidge: Admn 28 Apr 1999
The court considered a reference to the European Court on assumed facts where the domestic court had not yet established those facts. Europa In the present state of Community law, characterized by the absence of harmonization of the patents legislation of the Member States, and in the absence of international conventions in force providing to … Continue reading Thetford Corporation And Others v Fiamma Spa And Others: ECJ 30 Jun 1988
The dismissal by a Roman Catholic school of a teacher who was pregnant by a priest, was on the grounds of pregnancy, and for an inadmissible reason. The pregnancy was an effective cause of the adverse treatment of the Appellant by her employer. Judges: Mummery P Citations: Gazette 12-Sep-1996, Times 07-Jun-1996, [1996] IRLR 372, [1996] … Continue reading O’Neill v Governors of St Thomas More Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Upper School: EAT 7 Jun 1996
A tribunal considering a claim of disability discrimination should best consider the various statutory elements in the order given in the Act, so as to avoid confusion in unraveling what is a complex statutory structure. The wide language of section 6(2) and 6(3) is capable of applying to a ‘dismissal situation’. Although section 6 makes … Continue reading Morse v Wiltshire County Council: EAT 1 May 1998
EC directive on equal rights requires single parents to set off child care costs. A social security benefit designed to keep low income workers in employment or to encourage them into employment was within the scope of Directive 76/207/EC, not only as being directly related to access to employment, but also on the basis that … Continue reading Meyers v Adjudication Officer: ECJ 19 Jul 1995
An ability to carry out normal domestic day to day tasks did not mean that a physical impairment was not substantial. The word ‘substantial’ is potentially ambiguous. In that it might mean ‘very large’ or ‘more than minor or trivial’. The code of guidance resolves this ambiguity in favour of the latter alternative. The employment … Continue reading Goodwin v Patent Office: EAT 21 Oct 1998
The Tribunal was not wrong to find disability discrimination where an employee was selected for redundancy drawing inferences from events which had occurred before the Act came into force. No need in this law for comparison with treatment of comparitors. Citations: Gazette 03-Feb-1999, [1998] IRLR 624 Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Employment, Discrimination Updated: 18 … Continue reading British Sugar Plc v Kirker: EAT 3 Feb 1999
An airline pilot complained that he had been unfairly dismissed and the Industrial Tribunal, without considering whether or not they had jurisdiction to hear the complaint on the ground that the employee might ordinarily work abroad, found that the dismissal was unfair. The case had been listed before the Industrial Tribunal upon the jurisdictional question … Continue reading British Midland Airways Limited v Lewis: EAT 1978
Tribunals looking at Disability Discrimination should check the four factors in the Act without losing the overall picture. Assistance was available from the WHO Classification of Diseases. Being able to carry out a task did not mean ability was not impaired. ‘The tribunal should bear in mind that with social legislation of this kind, a … Continue reading Goodwin v Patent Office: EAT 3 Feb 1999
The employer appealed against a finding of disability discrimination. The tribunal was claimed not to have taken account of the codes of practice and the need for a risk assessment. Held: The absence of a risk assessment mean that no adjustment had been considered, and no justification was available. The finding was essentially under 5(1). … Continue reading Woodlands School (Newton Stewart) Ltd v Gordon: EAT 5 Oct 2001
Judges: Ward, M oore-Bick, Elias LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 648 Links: Bailii Statutes: Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Discrimination Updated: 11 May 2022; Ref: scu.440221
Where a local authority raised the care charges for facilities and services provided to disabled people charging different rates according to the benefits received, and where some benefits were received according to the level of disability, that differentiation did not amount to disability discrimination. The differences arose form the different levels of benefits paid to … Continue reading Regina v Powys County Council, Ex Parte Hambidge (No 2): CA 16 Mar 2000
