The applicant cleaner sought compensation for unfair dismissal. The issue was whether she was an employee of the respondents, of their client where she did her work, or was not an employee at all. She worked for an agency, who sent her out to offices to work. The court was called upon to give guidance … Continue reading Brook Street Bureau (UK) Ltd v Dacas: CA 5 Mar 2004
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
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Estoppel or abuse of process/AmendmentThe appeal was dismissed on issue estoppel. Issue estoppel applied not to the declarations made by the first Employment Tribunal, as apparently decided in the Pre Hearing Review judgment, but to the breach of contract issues that had been decided at that first hearing as stated … Continue reading Parker v Northumbrian Water: EAT 30 Mar 2011
Grand Chamber – The first applicant said he had been injured by a shot fired by a British soldier who had been carried for two miles into the Republic of Ireland, clinging to the applicant’s vehicle following an incident at a checkpoint. Held: Rules granting the State immunities, did not infringe the applicants’ right to … Continue reading McElhinney v Ireland; Al-Adsani v United Kingdom; Fogarty v United Kingdom: ECHR 21 Nov 2001
The claimant challenged the Regulations and Orders charging for the laying of complaints at Employment Tribunals, saying they were mistaken and discriminatory. Held: The challenge failed. The new Order was not in breach of European Union principles of effectiveness or equivalence. Althought the new system was expensive for litigants it was not so to the … Continue reading Unison, Regina (on The Application of) v The Lord Chancellor and Another: Admn 7 Feb 2014
Companies restored to the register, and the personal representatives of former employees, appealed against rejection of their claims from the insurers of the former companies for damages from mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos during employment. The court had held that the claims arose on exposure to the asbestos, and not at the point where symptoms … Continue reading Employers’ Liability Insurance ‘Trigger’ Litigation, Re: CA 8 Oct 2010
EAT UNFAIR DISMISSAL – Reasonableness of dismissal CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT – Written particulars The Employment Tribunal made two mistakes of fact which made the Judgment perverse. It could not be said to be unarguably right, and so was remitted to a different Employment Tribunal. The right under Employment Rights Act 1996 s1 to written particulars … Continue reading Parfums Givenchy Ltd v Finch: EAT 30 Jul 2010
EAT UNLAWFUL DEDUCTION FROM WAGESThe Claimant (who was a dentist) entered into a contract to provide dental services for the Respondent. The Employment Tribunal found that he was not an ’employee’ within the meaning of section 230(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 but that he was a ‘worker’ within the meaning of that provision. … Continue reading Community Dental Centres Ltd v Sultan- Darmon: EAT 12 Aug 2010
TIAC (i) In London Borough of Harrow v Ibrahim Case C-310/08 and Maria Teixeira v London Borough of Lambeth Case C-480/08 the European Court of Justice ECJ confirmed the principle established in the Baumbast Case C-413/99 [2002] ECR I-7091, namely that in order to confer on a child a right of residence Article 12 of … Continue reading MDB and Others (Article 12, 1612/68) Italy: UTIAC 2 Jun 2010
The Court was asked whether an employee’s remuneration is taxable as his or her emoluments or earnings when it is paid to a third party in circumstances in which the employee had no prior entitlement to receive it himself or herself. Held: The company’s appeal failed. The purposive approach to the interpretation of the general … Continue reading RFC 2012 Plc (Formerly The Rangers Football Club Plc) v Advocate General for Scotland: SC 5 Jul 2017
The Union challenged by way of judicial review proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, saying that it removed accrued rights. Held: The benefits under the scheme were fully legal entitlements and were protected. They were an established and declared administrative practice. An amendment could only be made with the consent of the Union, … Continue reading Public and Commercial Services Union, Regina (on The Application of) v Minister for The Civil Service: Admn 10 May 2010
The claimant challenged her dismissal as Director of children’s services at the respondent council following an adverse report into the Baby P death identified her department as being responsible. She said that the first defendant had allowed its report to be manipulated at the request of the minister as to transfer all blame to her … Continue reading Shoesmith, Regina (on The Application of) v Ofsted and Others: Admn 23 Apr 2010
Europa The benefits paid by an employer to a worker on the latter’s redundancy constitute a form of pay to which the worker is entitled in respect of his employment, which is paid to him upon termination of the employment relationship, which facilitates his adjustment to the new circumstances resulting from the loss of his … Continue reading Barber v Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Group: ECJ 17 May 1990
ECJ The principle that men and women should receive equal pay, which is laid down by article 119, is one of the foundations of the community. It may be relied on before the national courts. These courts have a duty to ensure the protection of the rights which that provision vests in individuals, in particular … Continue reading Defrenne v Sabena (No 2): ECJ 8 Apr 1976
The court was asked: ‘Was it unlawful for the Secretary of State for Health, the respondent, who had power to make provisions for the functioning of the National Health Service in England, to have failed to make a provision which would have enabled women who were citizens of the UK, but who were usually resident … Continue reading A and B, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Health: SC 14 Jun 2017
The claimant had been unfairly dismissed from her position as justices’ clerk. After appeal her additional claims for retirement and other compensation under the 1978 Regulations had been remitted to the Employment tribunal which had reconsidered and acceded to the claim. The Secretary of State appealed, saying that the Tribunal had failed properly to apply … Continue reading Secretary of State for Justice v Slee (2): Admn 22 Jan 2010
Gibraltar – The claimant challenged a public housing allocation policy which gave preference to married couples and parents of children, excluding same sex and infertile couples. Held: The aim of discouraging homosexual relationships is equally impermissible under sections 7(1) and 14 of the Constitution of Gibraltar. The suggested aims are incoherent and the means employed … Continue reading Rodriguez v Minister of Housing of The Government and Another: PC 14 Dec 2009
The court considered what elements must be present to create a contract of employment. Held: Stephenson LJ said: ‘There must . . be an irreducible minimum of obligation on each side to create a contract of service.’Kerr LJ said: ‘The inescapable requirement concerning the alleged employees however . . is that they must be subject … Continue reading Nethermere (St Neots) Ltd v Taverna and Gardiner: CA 1984
Tour guides were engaged to act ‘on a casual as required basis’. The guides later claimed to be employees and therefore entitled by statute to a written statement of their terms of employment. Their case was that an exchange of correspondence between the parties in March 1989 constituted a contract, which was to be classified … Continue reading Carmichael and Another v National Power Plc: HL 24 Jun 1999
The court was asked as to the interrelationship of the statutory schemes relating to the protection of employees’ pensions and to corporate insolvency. Held: Liabilities which arose from financial support directions or contribution notices issued by the Pensions Regulator under the 2004 Act after the company had gone into administration, which required the company to … Continue reading In re Nortel Companies and Others: SC 24 Jul 2013
The claimant journalist sought disclosure of papers acquired by the respondent in its conduct of enquiries into the charitable Mariam appeal. The Commission referred to an absolute exemption under section 32(2) of the 2000 Act, saying that the exemption continued until the papers were destroyed, or for 20 years under the 1958 Act. Held: The … Continue reading Kennedy v The Charity Commission: SC 26 Mar 2014
Loss of Confidentiality Protection – public domain A retired secret service employee sought to publish his memoirs from Australia. The British government sought to restrain publication there, and the defendants sought to report those proceedings, which would involve publication of the allegations made. The AG sought to restrain those publications. Held: A duty of confidence … Continue reading Attorney-General v Guardian Newspapers Ltd (No 2) (‘Spycatcher’): HL 13 Oct 1988
The plaintiff was a manager within the social services department. He suffered a mental breakdown in 1986, and had four months off work. His employers had refused to provide the increased support he requested. He had returned to work, but again, did not receive the staff or guidance to allow him to do the work … Continue reading Walker v Northumberland County Council: QBD 16 Nov 1994
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS: Worker, employee or neitherCONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT: Whether establishedREDUNDANCY: DefinitionPRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: Split hearingsThe ET erred in holding that contracts for the employment of a locum consultant entered into in breach of the National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 as amended were not ultra vires. However the ET did not err … Continue reading Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust v Lairikyengbam: EAT 21 Aug 2009
EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – AmendmentJURISDICTIONAL POINTS – 2002 Act and pre-action requirementsJudge refused permission to Claimant to amend claim form to include claim under s. 103A of Employment Rights Act 1996Held that Judge erred in law by failing properly to analyse the extent to which the proposed amendment would extend the scope of the … Continue reading Evershed v New Star Asset Management: EAT 31 Jul 2009
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS: 2002 Act and pre-action requirementsA teacher was given notice to terminate her limited-term contract of employment before a meeting to discuss it. The Employment Tribunal correctly found this was a breach of the 2002 Act regime and automatically unfair contrary to Employment Rights Act 1996 s98A. The correct sequence is this: the … Continue reading Birdwell Primary School v Fitzgerald: EAT 28 May 2009
The various claimants sought to challenge the 2004 Act by way of judicial review on the grounds that it was ‘a disproportionate, unnecessary and illegitimate interference with their rights to choose how they conduct their lives, and with market freedoms protected by European law; and an unjust interference with economic rights.’ Held: ‘We have concluded … Continue reading Countryside Alliance and others v HM Attorney General and others: Admn 29 Jul 2005
EAT VICTIMISATION DISCRIMINATION: Whistleblowing Appellant raised concerns with employer about immigration status of staff and students, and other alleged irregularities – Dismissed shortly afterwards – Claim of ‘ordinary’ unfair dismissal but also of detriment and dismissal for making a protected disclosure contrary to ss 47B and 103A of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Held: (1) … Continue reading El-Megrisi v Azad University (Ir) In Oxford: EAT 5 May 2009
The wrong of the servant or agent for which the master or principal is liable is one committed in the case of a servant in the course of his employment, and in the case of an agent in the course of his authority. It is fundamental to the whole approach to vicarious liability that an … Continue reading Generale Bank Nederland Nv (Formerly Credit Lyonnais Bank Nederland Nv) v Export Credits Guarantee Department: HL 19 Feb 1999
EAT UNFAIR DISMISSAL: Constructive dismissalWhether fundamental breach of implied term of trust and confidence cured, so that the Claimant’s resignation did not amount to constructive dismissal.Whether the range of reasonable responses test has any place in the question as to whether an employee has been constructively dismissed. Fairbrother and Claridge considered and not followed.General observations … Continue reading Bournemouth University Higher Education Corp v Buckland: EAT 8 May 2009
EAT UNFAIR DISMISSAL: Reasonableness of dismissalJURISDICTIONAL POINTS: 2002 Act and pre-action requiments The Employment Tribunal conflated the requirements placed on employers under Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Employment Act 2002 with the duty to conduct a fair and proper disciplinary process. The statute placed minimum requirements only on employers; the sanction for failure … Continue reading Johns v ISS Mediclean Ltd: EAT 27 Jan 2009
EAT UNFAIR DISMISSAL: Constructive dismissal The Employment Tribunal did not approach the question of constructive unfair dismissal in a last straw case by reference to the steps in Omilaju. To take an analytic approach and ask of each event whether the Claimant had proved a breach or fundamental breach of contract was an error. Appeal … Continue reading Muschett v Parkwood Healthcare: EAT 16 Mar 2009
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTSClaim in time and effective date of termination2002 Act and pre-action requirementsSTATUTORY DISCIPLINE AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURESWhether infringedEDT – Step 1 Grievance – Continuing act (limitation). Citations: [2008] UKEAT 0352 – 08 – 1212 Links: Bailii Statutes: Employment Rights Act 1996 108(1) Citing: Cited – Shergold v Fieldway Medical Centre EAT 5-Dec-2005 The claimant … Continue reading Tomlinson v Computer Software Group Ltd and others: EAT 12 Dec 2008
Compensation for non-economic loss brought about by the manner of an unfair dismissal is, on authority and on principle, recoverable. The award of such compensation by the employment tribunal in the present case was not excessive and was adequately explained. The court could look to parliamentary reports to identify the mischief sought to be rectified, … Continue reading Dunnachie v Kingston Upon Hull City Council: CA 11 Feb 2004
The defendant newspaper appealed summary judgment against it for breach of confidence and copyright infringement having published the claimant’s journals which he said were private. Held: Upheld, although the judge had given insufficient weight to the fact that the information was received under an express obligation of confidence. The court recognised that a duty of … Continue reading Associated Newspapers Ltd v Prince of Wales: CA 21 Dec 2006
EAT JURISDICTIONAL POINTS: 2002 Act and pre-action requirements Claim for detriment under section 48 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 does require a grievance letter to launch proceedings. Schedule 2, paragraph 15, Employment Act 2002 only applies to the protected disclosures provision in Part 4A of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Citations: [2008] UKEAT 0274 … Continue reading Waite v South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust: EAT 17 Oct 2008
The defendant signed an employment contract to join the claimants as a senior broker. He changed his mind and decided to stay in his existing job. The new employers sued for breach of contract. The defendant said that the claimants had refused to indemnify him should his employers claim under a restrictive covenant. He had … Continue reading Tullett Prebon Group Ltd v El-Hajjali: QBD 31 Jul 2008
EAT UNFAIR DISMISSAL: Reasonableness of dismissal JURISDICTIONAL POINTS: 2002 Act and pre-action requirements The majority judgment of the Employment Tribunal that the Respondent dismissed the Claimant unfairly in breach of the EADR 2004, Steps 1 and 2(ii)(b), and if necessary, Employment Rights Act 1996 s98(4), was set aside. It was made without explanation as to … Continue reading London United Busways Ltd v Salim: EAT 30 May 2008
The appellant had employed the three claimants in his medical surgery, but they claimed automatic unfair dismissal when the practice closed on his suspension from practice and the statutory procedures were followed but not to the procedural standard, alleging unreasonable delay in the appeals. Held: The employer’s appeal succeeded. The employees’ appeals failed. There was … Continue reading Selvarajan v Wilmot and others: CA 23 Jul 2008
EAT DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION TRADE UNION RIGHTSWhere the ET relied, crucially on material in coming to its decision which did not form part of the explicitly pleaded case with which the appellant’s relevant witness had not been given the opportunity in evidence to deal, the conclusions of the ET could not stand and the matter had … Continue reading Bascetta v Abbey National Plc: EAT 20 Feb 2009
EAT Working Time RegulationsUnfair Dismissal – Exclusions including worker/jurisdictionThe claimant, a lorry driver, worked mainly in Austria and Germany, but had a contract of employment with a company registered in England. The contract identified English law as the proper law and sought to confer exclusive jurisdiction on the English courts. The claimant lodged a number … Continue reading Bleuse v MBT Transport Ltd and Another: EAT 21 Dec 2007
A company pension scheme had been operating for many years, with increases being provided for under one rule. A new rule was introduced to provide regular increases. The company was taken over, and the trustees sought clarification of the company’s obligations. Held: The new rule provided a minimum increase but no right for the trustees … Continue reading Imperial Group Pension Trust Ltd v Imperial Tobacco Ltd: 1991
The claimant’s daughter had made a complaint of rape. She alleged that she was sexually harassed by the investigating police officer, and sought damages also from the defendant, his employer. The officer denied that anything improper or non-consensual had taken place. Held: The taking of the statements was a course of conduct and was plainly … Continue reading KD v Chief Constable of Hampshire: QBD 23 Nov 2005
The parties disputed on preliminary issues the ownership of the rights in the trade mark ‘World Cup Willie’. The claimant had set out to register the mark, and the defendant gave notice of its intention to oppose. The claimant now alleged threat and unlawful interference in contractual relations. The defendant alleged copyright infringement in the … Continue reading Jules Rimet Cup Ltd v The Football Association Ltd.: ChD 18 Oct 2007
EAT Unfair Dismissal – Constructive dismissalMaternity Rights and Parental Leave – Sex discriminationThe Claimant was employed as a Magistrates’ Clerk and she brought successful claims to the Employment Tribunal that:(a) Ms Slee (‘the Claimant’) had been constructively unfairly dismissed by The Department for Constitutional Affairs (‘the Respondent’);(b) The Respondent had failed to offer to the … Continue reading Secretary of State for Justice v Slee: EAT 19 Jul 2007
EAT Equal pay Act – Out of time The claimants before the Employment Tribunal alleged that when they were employed by NUPE, that union had breached their rights under the Equal Pay Act in connection with their pension rights. Subsequently, NUPE transferred to Unison by way of a trade union amalgamation. The claimants brought their … Continue reading Unison v Allen and others: EAT 26 Jul 2007
EAT Unfair Dismissal – Automatically unfair reasons / compensationEmployment Tribunal decision that Respondent has failed to comply with Schedule 2 Part 1 of the Employment Act 2002 contrary to authorities of Alexander v Bridgen Enterprises, YMCA Training v Stewart and Silman v ICTS.` The Employment Tribunal also took the wrong multiplicand for assessing future loss. … Continue reading Dugdale Plc v Cartlidge: EAT 20 Apr 2007
The plaintiff sought the unsealing of the wills of the late Queen Mother and of the late Princess Margaret, claiming that these would assist him establishing that he was the illegitimate son of the latter. Held: The application was frivolous. None of the evidence presented remotely constituted evidence of what the claimant asserted. Though section … Continue reading Brown v HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the Executors of the Estate of and others: FD 5 Jul 2007
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
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
EAT Unfair Dismissal – Reasonableness of dismissalPractice and Procedure – 2002 Act and pre-action requirementsThe Respondent dismissed the Claimant for three reasons. On appeal, two of the most serious fell away but the reason for dismissal remained the same. At the Employment Tribunal it was held that the procedure was unfair, but was rescued by … Continue reading McCall v Northern Rail Ltd: EAT 25 Jan 2007
The claimant said his dismissal had been automatically unfair under section 106(a) which protected him as a whistleblower. The court was asked whether any disclosure had to relate to an actual criminal offence, or otherwise what would be sufficient. The claimant had reported a failure by the college to act on reports that another lecturer … Continue reading Babula v Waltham Forest College: CA 7 Mar 2007
EAT Transfer of Undertakings – pensions and other termsThe Claimant started to work for the transferor in 1999 where there was no severance pay scheme. She transferred to the Appellant in 2004 where there is a dual scheme providing different benefits to those who ‘joined’ before and after 2002, each increasing with length of service. … Continue reading Computershare Investor Services Plc v Jackson: EAT 15 Dec 2006
Contract of Employment – Written particulars – uplift under section 38(3) of the Employment Act 2002 The Employment Judge erred in law in increasing an award by virtue of section 38(3) of the Employment Act 2002. The Appellant was not in breach of its duty under section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 when … Continue reading Govdata Ltd v Denton: EAT 28 Jan 2019
EAT Unfair dismissal – Automatically unfair reasonsA procedure will only have been completed within the meaning of section 98A(1)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 if it has been completed in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 2 to the Employment Act 2002. Citations: [2006] UKEAT 0368 – 06 – 2012 Links: Bailii Citing: Cited … Continue reading Patel v Leicester City Council: EAT 20 Dec 2006
EAT Unfair dismissal – Automatically unfair reasonsA procedure will only have been completed within the meaning of section 98A(1)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 if it has been completed in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 2 to the Employment Act 2002. Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Keith Citations: [2006] UKEAT 0368 – 06 … Continue reading Patel v Leicester City Council: EAT 20 Nov 2006
EAT Unfair dismissal – Reasonableness of dismissal; Procedural Fairness/automatically unfair dismissal Practice and Procedure – Amendment Employment Tribunal’s conclusion of unfairness could not be criticised and was correct, especially as unappealed findings would make the dismissal unfair in any event by reason of the manager’s closed mind and failure to conduct proper investigations. Claimant wished … Continue reading Masterfoods (A Division of Mars UK Ltd) v Wilson: EAT 7 Aug 2006
EAT Practice and Procedure – 2002 Act and Pre-action requirements There is no free-standing right to complain of a breach of the statutory procedures in the absence of a valid claim of unfair dismissal (here by a person with less than one year’s service). The right to a statement of particulars of contractual terms under … Continue reading Scott-Davies v Redgate Medical Services: EAT 11 Aug 2006
(Northern Ireland) The applicant sought judicial review of a decision not to disclose documents held by the respondent to him saying that the refusal was disproportionate and infringed his human rights. The respondents said that the documents were provided on an assurance of confidentiality. Held: Disclosure rules are different in judicial review proceedings since such … Continue reading Tweed v Parades Commission for Northern Ireland: HL 13 Dec 2006
The applicant was not entitled in domestic law to succeed to a tenancy on the death of her partner. The aim of the legislation is question was to protect the family, a goal similar to the protection of the right to respect for family life guaranteed by Article 8 of the Convention. The aim itself … Continue reading S v United Kingdom: ECHR 1986
The bank had sought summary dismissal of a claim for non-payment of bonuses to the claimant a former employee, and now appealed refusal of its request for summary dismissal, saying that the claim had no prospect of success. The claimant said that though the payments were discretionary, it was an implied term that the bank … Continue reading Commerzbank Ag v Keen: CA 17 Nov 2006
The claimants sought an injunction against unknown persons who were said to have divulged confidential matters to newspapers. The order had been served on newspapers who now complained that the order was too uncertain to allow them to know how to obey it. Associated Newspapers had agreed to an undertaking, but then were served with … Continue reading X and Y v Persons Unknown: QBD 8 Nov 2006
The claimant brought a claim for detriment suffered after he had made a protected disclosure. The employer replied that he was out of the three month time limit. He had been off sick after being assaulted, and said that his employers had treated him as a troublemaker after he complained and disclosed that he had … Continue reading Arthur v London Eastern Railway Ltd (T/A One Stansted Express): CA 25 Oct 2006
EAT The employee was the practice manager at a general medical practice. She was dismissed for dishonesty, taking unauthorised pay for overtime hours. She alleged that she had been told by the former practice manager that she should do so, but the Tribunal found that she did not raise this with any of the doctors.The … Continue reading Kelly-Madden v Manor Surgery: EAT 19 Oct 2006
EAT The Claimant was employed on a fixed term contract. During the terms of the contract he was dismissed for misconduct and made an application to the Employment Tribunal (ET) claiming unfair dismissal. He appealed but the appeal was heard after the date when the contract would have expired by effluxion of time. The appeal … Continue reading Prakash v Wolverhampton City Council: EAT 1 Sep 2006
EAT The Claimant, a director of the Respondent, was dismissed for gross misconduct. There were grounds upon which the Respondent could reasonably have treated his conduct as justifying immediate dismissal for a fair reason within the meaning of section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. However the ET found that the true reason for … Continue reading East Lancashire Coachbuilders v Hilton: EAT 24 Aug 2006
Civil servants had been transferred to a private company. At first they worked under secondment from the civil service. They asserted that they had protection under TUPE and the Acquired Rights Directive. The respondent said that there had only been a transfer over time, so as to diminish their periods of continuous employment. The matter … Continue reading North Wales Training and Enterprise Council Ltd v Astley and others: HL 21 Jun 2006
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
The reason adduced by the union for the dismissal of the climant was found by the Tribunal on the facts not to be the true reason for dismissal, the true reason being the union executive committee’s political antipathy to Mr Brady. Held: It was highly arguable that a finding that disciplinary proceedings had been commenced … Continue reading Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen v Brady: EAT 31 Mar 2006
The claimant had been dismissed shortly after becoming unable to work. She sought payment of her normal salary during the period of notice saying this was established good practice. Held: ‘We are put in the invidious position of being bound by a Court of Appeal decision which seems to the majority to conflict with a … Continue reading Langley and Another v Burso: EAT 3 Mar 2006
EAT The claimant had worked as an adviser for the respondent identifying investment opportunities. He said he had been unfairly dismissed after disclosing that the company had overpaid for an investment. He now appealed against a finding that any disclosures were not made in good faith and were not qualifying disclosures. Though his dismissal had … Continue reading Bachnak v Emerging Markets Partnership (Europe) Ltd: EAT 27 Jan 2006
The claimant had dual Irish and US nationality. He therefore also was a citizen of the EU. He complained that the British rules against payment of job seekers’ allowance were discriminatory. The matter had already been to the ECJ. Held: The residence test as applied was not in contravention of EU law. ‘[T]he proper interpretation … Continue reading Collins v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 4 Apr 2006
EAT Whether an Employment Tribunal took a permissible approach to determining that a dismissal was unfair, in circumstances in which it did not clearly set out the terms of section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Whether on the facts it substituted its own view of the occurrence and quality of misconduct for that … Continue reading Mars UK Ltd T/A Masterfoods v K Parker: EAT 24 Oct 2005
Judges: Burton J P Citations: [2003] EAT 1115 – 02 – 2701, [2003] UKEAT 1115 – 02 – 2701 Links: Bailii, Bailii Statutes: Employment Rights Act 1996 50 51 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also – Edwards v Marconi Corporation Plc EAT 2-Nov-2001 Ex Parte application to determine whether or not there is an … Continue reading Edwards v Marconi Corporation Plc: EAT 27 Jan 2003
The claimants were dependants of Iraqi nationals killed in Iraq. Held: The Military Police were operating when Britain was an occupying power. The question in each case was whether the Human Rights Act applied to the acts of the defendant. The question amounted to whether the officers acted under State Agent Authority within the convention … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Mazin Mumaa Galteh Al-Skeini and Others) v The Secretary of State for Defence: CA 21 Dec 2005
The will was executed anticipating the marriage to the respondent, leaving assets on discretionary trusts for the responent and various family members and others. She had come to work for the deceased as his housekeeper, but later they came to marry. The marriage took place about one year before the death. Held: ‘in relation to … Continue reading Fielden, Graham (Executors of Cunliffe deceased) v Cunliffe: CA 6 Dec 2005
An order had been made restraining the defendant trades unions from taking industrial action. The unions said the UK court had no jurisdiction. Held: ‘It is at first sight surprising that the English Commercial Court should be the forum in which a dispute between a Finnish company and a Finnish Trade Union and an international … Continue reading International Transport Workers’ Federation and Another v Viking Line Abp and Another: CA 3 Nov 2005
The hearing was an adjourned second hearing. The appeal on sex discrimination had been dismissed, and the balance of the claim for constructive unfair dismissal was adjourned. At that adjourned hearing the claimant now sought to re-open the claims already remitted. Held: The EAT adopted the practice in Emery Reimbold. The earlier remission of the … Continue reading Burns v Royal Mail Group Plc (No 2) (Formerly Consignia Plc), Humphrey: EAT 14 Jan 2004
The NUJ appealed refusal of collective negotiating rights with the Daily Mirror, having a majority of the members in the sports division. The paper had previously given exclusive rights to a competing union. At the time of the hearing the competing union had only one member in the division, whereas the NUJ had a majority. … Continue reading Regina (National Union of Journalists) v Central Arbitration Committee: Admn 19 Nov 2004
The applicant was employed by the respondent who had a collective agreement with a trade union. Held: Not all elements of the collective agreement need be intended to be legally enforceable. She complained that the collective agreement would have protected her from compulsory redundancy. Keene LJ said: ‘the words relied on by the respondent . … Continue reading Kaur v MG Rover Group Ltd: CA 17 Nov 2004
The claimant appealed against refusal of an order restraining publication by the respondent of an article about her. She said that it was based upon an email falsely attributed to her. Held: ‘in an action for defamation a court will not impose a prior restraint on publication unless it is clear that no defence will … Continue reading Greene v Associated Newspapers Ltd: CA 5 Nov 2004
The claimant suffered back pain for which she required neurosurgery. The operation was associated with a 1-2% risk of the cauda equina syndrome, of which she was not warned. She went ahead with the surgery, and suffered that complication. The evidence established that cauda equina syndrome was a random and inherent risk of the surgery, … Continue reading Chester v Afshar: HL 14 Oct 2004
The claimant had succeeded before the employment tribunal in her claim of race discrimination by the respondent and senior officers. She now appealed the reversal of that judgment. The claimant asked the tribunal to draw inferences of discrimination from her unreasonable treatment. Held: The ability and readiness of a tribunal to infer discriminatory motives from … Continue reading Law Society v Bahl: CA 30 Jul 2004
The applicant questioned the compatibility of s185 of the 1996 Act with Human Rights law. The family sought emergency housing. The child of the family, found to be in priority housing need, was subject also to immigration control. Though the matter had been settled the court was invited to pursue the decision. Held: The Act … Continue reading Morris, Regina (on the Application of) v Westminster City Council and Another: Admn 7 Oct 2004
The appellant sought to enforce a international arbitration award against the respondent. The award was made under an arrangement which later became unlawful on Romania’s accession to the EU, and Romania obtained s stay pending resolution by the CJEU. Held: The stay was lifted. Judges: Lady Hale, Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Sales … Continue reading Micula and Others v Romania: SC 19 Feb 2020
Judges: Peter Clark HHJ Citations: [1997] UKEAT 1213 – 97 – 1012 Links: Bailii Statutes: Employment Rights Act 1996 100(1)(a) Cited by: See Also – Bewry v Cumbria County Council EAT 10-Apr-2002 Appeal against rejection of complaint of unfair dismissal. Held: The appeal failed raising no arguable point of law. . .See Also – Bewry … Continue reading Bewry v Cumbria County Council: EAT 10 Dec 1997
The claimant sought increased maternity pay. Before beginning her maternity leave she had been awarded a pay increase, but it was not backdated so as to affect the period upon which the calculation of her average pay was based. The court made a detailed comparison of the regimes for protection under the Employment Rights Act … Continue reading Alabaster v Barclays Bank Plc and Another: CA 3 May 2005
Mrs Nolan had been employed at a US airbase. When it closed, and she was made redundant, she complained that the appellant had not consulted properly on the redundancies. The US denied that it had responsibility to consult, and now appealed. Held: The appeal failed (Lord Carnworth dissenting). That the exact situation might not have … Continue reading The United States of America v Nolan: SC 21 Oct 2015
The defendant claimed that he had gone absent without leave from the RAF as a conscientous objector. Held: The defendant had not demonstrated by complaint to the RAF that he did object to service in Iraq. In some circumstances where there was no procedure to make his objection known, the failure to do so might … Continue reading Khan v Royal Air Force Summary Appeal Court: Admn 7 Oct 2004
In a protected disclosure case, time runs from the occurrence of the alleged detriment and not from the alleged disclosure.Lord Nimmo Smith said: ‘It would appear to us to be consistent with the main purpose of the 1998 Act to approach the matter in this way, as to construe it in the manner suggested by … Continue reading Stolt Offshore Ltd v Miklaszewicz: SCS 21 Dec 2001
The defendant appealed against the strike out of parts of its defence. The claimant was employed as the mosque director and imam. He had brought an action in the Industrial Tribunal alleging wrongful dismissal, but notifying the defendants that any excess above what the tribunal could order would be sought in the current action. That … Continue reading Sajid v Sussex Muslim Society: CA 2 Oct 2001
The applicant had been an employee of the objector at their nightclub ‘Chinawhite’ and whose principal attraction was a cocktail of the same name. Employees signed a confidentiality agreement as to the recipe. Having left the employment, the appellant set up a company with a similar name and applied for the mark ‘CHINA WHITE’. The … Continue reading Harrison v Teton Valley Trading Co; Harrison’s Trade Mark Application (CHINAWHITE): CA 27 Jul 2004
The claimant alleged that she had been dismissed for making qualifying disclosures about her employers. The employer said that her actions had not been in good faith. The claimant answered that her motive was irrelevant. The claimant appealed dismissal of her claim. Held: The minimum requirement of the Act was that the disclosures were made … Continue reading Street v Derbyshire Unemployed Workers’ Centre: CA 21 Jul 2004
EAT Issue whether Employment Tribunal asked itself the right question and/or was perverse in failing to find that the principal reason for the Council’s changed arrangements was to thwart TUPE and hence that the ECM point should have been injected into the (otherwise correctly applied) Spijkers test. Appeal dismissed. Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Burton … Continue reading Astle and others v Cheshire County Council and Omnisure Property Management Ltd: EAT 20 May 2004
The company went into insolvent liquidation. The secretary of state was to make payments to employees and there were other state preferential creditors. At the same time a refund of VAT was due from the Commissioners of customs and Excise. Held: The sums paid out and preferential debts could be set off against the VAT … Continue reading Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v Frid: HL 13 May 2004
When calculating the losses suffered by a victim of crime, the allowance to be made for losses to a retirement pension through having to retire early should have set off against them, the benefits received by way of payments for his ill-health, which payments he would not have received but for the incident. The section … Continue reading Cantwell v Criminal Injuries Compensation Board: HL 5 Jul 2001
EAT Redundancy – Collective consultation and information. Serota QC J said: ‘In English v Emery Reimbold and Strick Ltd . . the Court of Appeal gave guidance as to the circumstances in which a Judge might be invited to amplify his reasons and findings where these are considered to be insufficient. The EAT has adopted … Continue reading J K Bansi v Alpha Flight Services: EAT 3 Feb 2004
The applicant had been employed to provide services to RAF in the Ascension Islands. He alleged constructive dismissal. There was an issue as to whether somebody working in the Ascension Islands was protected by the 1996 Act. The restriction on jurisdiction in s196 had been removed. The question now was as to what test applied … Continue reading Serco Ltd v Lawson and Foreign and Commonwealth Office: CA 23 Jan 2004
The Court found the probationer police constable to have been unlawfully induced to resign, but the court could not order his reinstatement. A power must be exercised by the precise person or body stated in the statute. Though courts may review the way in which decisions are reached, they will respect the margin of appreciation … Continue reading Chief Constable of the North Wales Police v Evans: HL 1982
The respondent had been found to be unfairly dismissed. The appellants wished to appeal and sought disclosure of certain documents from the respondent’s solicitors. They now appealed against that refusal. Held: The appeal succeeded. The chairman had failed to give adequate reasons for the refusal, and indeed the order should have been made. The papers … Continue reading Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd v Bhatia: EAT 27 Mar 2003