EAT Race Discrimination : Continuing Act – The Claimant complained of entries made on Facebook by work colleagues, said to be acts of discrimination on the grounds of disability and nationality. He was found to be out of time. The Employment Judge’s decision at a PHR in part was reversed. The Employment Judge erred in … Continue reading Novak v Phones 4U Ltd: EAT 14 Sep 2012
The claimant applied for leave to bring an action for race discrimination nine years after the acts complained of. Leave was granted. The respondent said the tribunal should have heard the complaint first before deciding to extend time. Held: The discretion given was to act as the tribunal thought just and equitable. There was no … Continue reading Afolabi v Southwark London Borough Council: CA 24 Jan 2003
The court considered the use of injunctions to restrain breaches of planning control. The applicants were gypsies who had taken up occupation of land in mobile homes. The respondent had given them twelve months for them to find alternative accomodation. The extended time was intended to minimise disruption to the children’s education. Held: Even if … Continue reading O’Brien and others v South Cambridgeshire District Council: CA 24 Oct 2008
EAT Unfair dismissal – Procedural fairness/automatically unfair dismissalPractice and Procedure – Appellate jurisdiction/Reasons/Burns-BarkeRace discrimination – Direct / Burden of proof / VictimisationIt being common ground that the Employment Tribunal directed itself correctly on the law, its application to the facts was not perverse. The Employment Tribunal approached the burden of proof correctly, except for holding … Continue reading Birmingham City Council and Another v Samuels: EAT 24 Oct 2007
The testatrix left a will anticipating making another. The court was asked whether a clause leaving her estate to ‘be taken over by the Diocese of Westminster to hold in trust for the Black community of Hackney’ was valid. Held: The gift was capable of being charitable, subject to the application of the 1976 Act. … Continue reading Gibbs v Harding and others: ChD 12 Jan 2007
An Asian Doctor had repeatedly been refused full registration by the council. It was held that he could not bring a claim of indirect discrimination, because he had not exhausted his rights of appeal. An application for review under the Act gave sufficient opportunity of redress being by way of an independent hearing capable of … Continue reading Khan v General Medical Council: EAT 24 Mar 1993
The court was asked whether the Employment Tribunal had jurisdiction to hear claims of age discrimination brought by the appellant’s employees, based in Hong Kong, but working as crew on flights between there and London. Held: The appeal failed: ‘There was no error of law in the ET’s ruling that Ms Mak did ‘her work … Continue reading British Airways Plc v Mak and Others: CA 24 Feb 2011
EAT HARASSMENT: Purpose Tribunal was entitled to find that a remark made by an employer to a female employee of Indian ethnic origin referring to the possibility of her being ‘married off in India’ had the effect of violating her dignity and constituted harassment within the meaning of s. 3A of the Race Relations Act … Continue reading Richmond Pharmacology v Dhaliwal: EAT 12 Feb 2009
Allowance of Stigma Damages The employees claimed damages, saying that the way in which their employer had behaved during their employment had led to continuing losses, ‘stigma damages’ after the termination. Held: It is an implied term of any contract of employment that the employer shall not without reasonable and proper cause conduct itself in … Continue reading Malik v Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI); Mahmud v Bank of Credit and Commerce International: HL 12 Jun 1997
korashi_lhbEAT2011 EAT VICTIMISATION DISCRIMINATION – WhistleblowingRACE DISCRIMINATION – DirectJURISDICTIONAL POINTS – Claim in time and effective date of terminationPRACTICE AND PROCEDURENew evidence on appealAppellate jurisdiction/reasons/Burns-BarkeThe Employment Tribunal correctly dismissed PIDA claims as having failed to meet one or other of the conditions in Employment Rights Act 1996 s 47B 47C 47G and 47H, and further … Continue reading Korashi v Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board: EAT 12 Sep 2011
The university had imposed a new constitution on its students union, which resulted in the dismissal of the claimant. He sought to assert racial discrimination. Held: The concept of ‘aiding’ somebody in committing discriminatory behaviour under the section, connoted assistance beyond the negligible, but did not need to be substantial or productive. The word should … Continue reading Anyanwu and Another v South Bank Student Union and Another: HL 24 May 2001
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The claimant was a Pakistani member of the Labour Party. He had sought selection as parliamentary candidate, but allegations had been made about behaviour of members in the Pakistani community in his ward and the local party had been suspended. A candidate was deliberately chosen who was not a member of that community. The claimant … Continue reading Watt (Formerly Carter) v Ahsan: HL 21 Nov 2007
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS- Agency relationshipsRACE DISCRIMINATIONDirectInjury to feelingsAccepted, in line with EAT authority, that common law agency principles apply to Race Relations Act s32(1). On that basis employer appeal against agency finding upheld and set aside.Injury to feelings award manifestly excessive and wrong in principle (see Vento). Award reduced from andpound;12,000 to andpound;6,000. Judges: Peter … Continue reading Ministry of Defence v Kemeh: EAT 11 Mar 2013
Health insurer is not body providing qualification to carry on profession or trade and not liable as such in race discrimination laws. Citations: Times 24-Jul-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 2046 Statutes: Race Relations Act 1976 12 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Kelly v Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Loughran v Northern Ireland Housing Executive … Continue reading Dr Tattari v Private Patients Plan Limited: CA 8 Jul 1997
EAT Race Discrimination – Discrimination by other bodiesPractice and Procedure – Amendment(a) The Employment Tribunal correctly held it had no jurisdiction to hear Claimant’s case brought under the Race Relations Act 1976 s12 against the General Medical Council as a qualifying body.(b) If it did, and if it were necessary to decide the point, the … Continue reading Tariquez-Zaman v General Medical Council: EAT 20 Dec 2006
The appellant’s application for full registration as a qualified medical practitioner had been refused by the GMC after a five-year maximum period of limited registration. His application for full registration in accordance with section 25 of the Medical Act 1983 was refused by the GMC. He then applied to the Review Board for Overseas Qualified … Continue reading Khan v General Medical Council: CA 11 Apr 1994
Miss Singh challenged her school’s policy which operated to prevent her wearing while at school a steel bangle, a Kara. She said this was part of her religion as a Sikh. Held: Earlier comparable applications had been made under human rights law, but this was under the 1976 Act. The evidence established that the Sikh … Continue reading Watkins-Singh, Regina (on the Application of) v The Governing Body of Aberdare Girls’ High School and Another: Admn 29 Jul 2008
EAT RACE DISCRIMINATION – Inferring DiscriminationTribunal wrong to apply test in King v Great Britain-China Centre [1992] ICR 516 instead of applying s.54A of Race Relations Act 1976 on the basis that the Claimant was claiming ‘colour discrimination’ – Chagger v Abbey National plc [2009] ICR 624 followed – but held that there was on … Continue reading Edozie v Group 4 Securicor Plc and Another: EAT 3 Jun 2009
EAT SEX DISCRIMINATION: Burden of proofRACE DISCRIMINATION: Inferring discrimination Tribunal found Claimant to have suffered both sex and race discrimination in course of her employment as a consultant orthodontist. On appeal, Tribunal found to have failed to carry out a like for like comparison with chosen comparators and to have, wrongly, only considered Appellants’ submissions … Continue reading Grampian Health Board v Hewage: EAT 4 Feb 2009
The court was asked as to whether the provisions for the reversal of the burden of proof in discrimination cases was limited to findings of discrimination or extended also to issues of victimisation, and as to whether section 5A had properly incorporated the European Directive. Held: The test in section 54A and in Igen v … Continue reading Oyarce v Cheshire County Council: CA 2 May 2008
The employee claimed that he had been discriminated against. He had stood as a candidate in local elections for the British National Party (BNP) party. His employers had dismissed him saying that his propagation of racially discriminatory polices was incompatible with his duties. Held: The dismissal was not on racially discriminatory grounds, though considerations of … Continue reading Serco Ltd v Redfearn: CA 25 May 2006
Citations: [2004] EWCA Civ 1246 Links: Bailii Statutes: Race Relations Act 1976 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from – Moyo v Tower Hamlets Consortium EAT 26-Mar-2004 EAT Race Discrimination – Victimisation. . . Cited – Dr Anya v University of Oxford and Another CA 22-Mar-2001 Discrimination – History of interactions relevantWhen a tribunal considered … Continue reading Moyo v Tower Hamlets Consortium: CA 30 Jul 2004
The respondent resisted a claim of unfair dismissal and race discrimination on the basis that the employment contract was illegal since the claimant was an immigrant and unable to work without a work permit. Held: The Court of Appeal upheld a defence of illegality to a teacher’s complaint against a school of unlawful discrimination by … Continue reading V v Addey and Stanhope School: CA 30 Jul 2004
The claimant had been awarded damages for sex discrimination, including a sum of andpound;25,000 for injury to feelings. The respondent appealed. Held: The Court of Appeal looked to see whether there had been an error of law in the employment tribunal decision. It did not look to see whether the Employment Appeal Tribunal had erred … Continue reading Vento v The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police (No 2): CA 20 Dec 2002
The Council opposed sporting links with South Africa. The local rugby club failed to denounce apartheid and did not seek to dissuade three of its players touring with the national side. The Court of Appeal had refused judicial review of the council’s decision to ban the club from playing at the ground which it owned. … Continue reading Wheeler v Leicester City Council; In re Wheeler and others: HL 25 Jul 1985
‘Aid’ under the section meant something more than mere helpfulness. The complainants arranged a wedding in premises owned by a defendant. The police respondents advised the owner that the wedding was for gypsies, whereupon the defendants unlawfully discriminated against the applicants. Nevertheless, the acts of the police did not go beyond an attempt to be … Continue reading Hallam and Another v Cheltenham Borough Council and Others: HL 27 Mar 2001
A university was not acting in a racially discriminatory manner because of the acts of its student union in dismissing two workers after the university had itself expelled them as students. The term ‘knowingly aided’ in the Act was not to be read so widely. The expulsion by the applicants made the termination of employment … Continue reading Anyanwu and Another v South Bank Students’ Union and Another: CA 4 Nov 1999
The appellant, of Nigerian origin had been brought here at the age of 14 with false identity papers, and was put to work caring for the respondent’s children. In 2008 she was dismissed and ejected from the house. She brought proceedings alleging racial discrimination, but the only element of her claim which succeeded was of … Continue reading Hounga v Allen and Another: SC 30 Jul 2014
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
Hate-Incident Guidance Inflexible and Unlawful The central issue raised in the appeal is the lawfulness of certain parts of a document entitled the Hate Crime Operational Guidance (the Guidance). The Guidance, issued in 2014 by the College of Policing (the College), the respondent to this appeal, sets out the national policy in relation to the … Continue reading Miller v The College of Policing: CA 20 Dec 2021
Discrimination – History of interactions relevant When a tribunal considered whether the motive for an act was discriminatory, it should look not just at the act, but should make allowance for earlier acts which might throw more light on the act in question. The Tribunal should assess the totality of the evidence on any material … Continue reading Dr Anya v University of Oxford and Another: CA 22 Mar 2001
The absence of any other explanation for the unfair dismissal of a black worker, does not of itself and inescapably lead to finding of race bias, or racial discrimination. He had been dismissed following complaints of sexual harassment, later found to be unsupported. The tribunal reasoned that the dismissal was to be presumed to be … Continue reading Strathclyde Regional Council v Zafar; Zafar v Glasgow City Council: HL 16 Oct 1997
amnesty_ahmedEAT2009 EAT RACE DISCRIMINATION – Direct discriminationRACE DISCRIMINATION – Indirect discriminationRACE DISCRIMINATION – Protected by s. 41UNFAIR DISMISSAL – Constructive dismissalClaimant, of (northern) Sudanese ethnic origin, applied for promotion to role of ‘Sudan researcher’ for Amnesty International – Not appointed because Amnesty believed that the appointment of a person of her ethnic origin would compromise … Continue reading Amnesty International v Ahmed: EAT 13 Aug 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 considered the nature of evidence which will be available to tribunals considering a race discrimination claim. Held: A complainant must prove his or her case on the balance of probabilities, but it is unusual to find direct evidence of racial discrimination, and a case will usually depend on what inferences can properly be … Continue reading King v Great Britain China Centre: CA 1991
The claimant was a police sergeant. After many years he had not been promoted. He began proceedings for race discrimination. Whilst those were in course, he applied for a post elsewhere. That force wrote to his own requesting a reference. In the light of the discrimination claim, they were advised not to reply for fear … Continue reading Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police v Khan: HL 11 Oct 2001
mod_fletcherEAT2009 EAT SEX DISCRIMINATIONInjury to feelingsSEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATIONWhere there is overlap between the basis of aggravated damages and compensation for injury to feelings, double counting should be avoided but a reasonable sum may be awarded for uncompensated aggravating elements of the conduct which forms the basis of the awards – Vento v Chief Constable of … Continue reading Ministry of Defence v Fletcher: EAT 9 Oct 2009
Common Law – Public Nuisance – Extent The House considered the elements of the common law offence of public nuisance. One defendant faced accusations of having sent racially offensive materials to individuals. The second was accused of sending an envelope including salt to a friend as a joke. The envelope had leaked causing a terrorist … Continue reading Regina v Rimmington; Regina v Goldstein: HL 21 Jul 2005
E complained that his exclusion from admission to the school had been racially discriminatory. The school applied an Orthodox Jewish religious test which did not count him as Jewish because of his family history. Held: The school’s appeal failed. English law may be at fault because it made no allowance for any justification of direct … Continue reading E, Regina (on The Application of) v Governing Body of JFS and Another: SC 16 Dec 2009
Contrary to his employers orders, a milkman allowed children to assist him in his milkround. One was injured, and sued the milkman’s employer. Held: The milkman had not gone so far outside the activities for which he was employed for the employer to escape liability. Lord Scarman said: ‘In words which have frequently been quoted … Continue reading Rose v Plenty: CA 7 Jul 1975
Extension oh Human Rights Beyond Borders The appellants complained that the system set up by the respondent where Home Office officers were placed in Prague airport to pre-vet applicants for asylum from Romania were dsicriminatory in that substantially more gypsies were refused entry than others, and that it was contrary to the obligations of the … Continue reading Regina v Immigration Officer at Prague Airport and another, ex parte European Roma Rights Centre and others: HL 9 Dec 2004
The Council applied for the committal of the defendant for an alleged breach of a without notice injunction. Notice of the injunction had been placed at the site, requiring nobody to move caravans onto the land. Held: The application succeeded. Having examined the case law the need for committal was established. The defendant was to … Continue reading Broxbourne Borough Council v Robb and Others: QBD 27 Jun 2011
The court was asked as to the duty of local housing authorities towards homeless people who claim to be ‘vulnerable’, and therefore to have ‘a priority need’ for the provision of housing accommodation under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996. Those . .
The claimant said that a scheme drawn by the defendant for compensating British civilians interned by the Japanese during the second world war was indirectly discriminatory on racial grounds by requiring a national origin link with the UK. She had . .
A claim was brought under the section which provides that it is unlawful ‘for an Authority or Body which can confer an authorisation for, or facilitates, engagement in a particular profession or trade to discriminate.’ It was claimed that there had . .
A flat was sold, but before the purchasers registered the transfer, the seller was sequestrated, and his trustee registered his own interest as trustee. The buyer complained that the trustee was unjustly enriched.
Held: The Act defined the . .