Mutangadura v Home Office [2023]

Acted for the Respondent in a claim for direct race discrimination.  The case raised questions regarding the burden of proof provisions in circumstances where the putative discriminator had no recollection of the alleged discriminatory act.  The Claimant’s claim was dismissed.  The judgment can be accessed here

Jones v Kammac Ltd [2023]

David represented the Respondent in an eight-day claim for sex discrimination and constructive dismissal.  The claim concerned whether there can be an anticipatory breach of contract in circumstances where there was a genuine dispute as to the Claimant’s contractual entitlement.  The case also involved consideration of the last straw doctrine in circumstances where the Claimant had advanced various ‘last straws.’    The ET dismissed the Claimant’s claims.  The judgment can be accessed here

Chow v NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board [2023]

Acted for the Respondent in a five day claim for whistleblowing detriments, race discrimination and disability discrimination (failure to make reasonable adjustments, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation).  All claims were dismissed.  The judgment can be accessed here

Baker v Governing Body of St Charles RC Primary School [2023]

David acted for the Respondent in a claim for unfair dismissal by a headteacher.  The claim was heard over four days and was factually dense.  The Claimant made wide ranging allegations of substantive and procedural unfairness.  The claim was dismissed.  The judgment can be accessed here

Jackson v Greater Manchester Police [2021-2023]

Acted for the Respondent in a whistleblowing case of utmost seriousness and complexity.  The claim involved allegations of corruption by a serving senior police officer.  The hearing was conducted over 160 sitting days and attracted considerable media attention.  Led by Simon Gorton KC.  Judgment awaited.

Grundy v Dodd Engineering [2021]

David acted for the Claimant in a claim for disability discrimination heard over four days.  The Claimant was successful in his claim that the Respondent breached the duty to make reasonable adjustments by failing to consult with the Claimant prior to dismissing him for redundancy.  The judgment can be accessed here

X v Y Ltd [2021]

Acted for the Claimant in an equal pay claim heard over five days.  The Claimant alleged that a historic pay disparity had become tainted by sex and could no longer be justified.  The Claimant (who remained employed) was successful and was awarded pay parity with her comparator.

Hyde v Secretary of State for Justice [2020]

Acting for the Respondent in a four-week hearing.  The Claimant advanced claims of detriment and dismissal for making a protected disclosure, disability harassment, discrimination arising from disability and constructive dismissal.  The claim was factually dense with the Claimant alleging she had suffered over 40 whistleblowing detriments.  David cross examined the Claimant for five days.  All the Claimant’s claims were dismissed.  The full judgment can be accessed here

Knox v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police [2019]       

David represented the Respondent in a two-week whistleblowing, victimisation, and discrimination (sex and disability) claim.  The Claimant advanced a claim (at that point untested domestically) of indirect discrimination by association.  The Claimant’s claims were dismissed save for a finding of harassment and victimisation, the latter overturned on appeal. A costs award was made in the Respondent’s favour.  The judgment can be accessed here

Honeyman v Highways England Company Limited [2018]

Acted for the Respondent in a complex whistleblowing claim involving disclosures relating to alleged technical failings by the Respondent.  Hearing listed for 5 days. Following two days of cross examination, the Claimant withdrew all his claims.

Appellate Cases

Chief Constable of Merseyside Police v Knox UKEAT/0300/19/JOJ [2021]

David represented the Appellant in a successful appeal against a finding that the Respondent was liable for victimisation of the Claimant.  The EAT held that the ET’s finding was perverse and could not stand.  The EAT further found that the ET erred in concluding that the burden of proof had passed to the Respondent.

Mutangadura v The Home Office [2021] UKEAT/0954/19/BA

Acted for the Respondent in an appeal relating to the burden of proof provisions in a direct discrimination claim.  The Claimant’s claim was dismissed following remittal to the same tribunal.

McCrudden v St Helens MBC [2019] UKEAT

Acted for the Respondent successfully defending a perversity appeal against the decision of ET in a whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claim.

British Association for Shooting and Conservation v Cokayne [2008] ICR 185

Acted for the Appellant in an important case on the application of Rule 25 where a Claimant withdraws a claim whilst maintaining an intention to bring a second claim.  Held that the exception to the cause of action estoppel allowed in Ako v Rothchild Asset Management (2002) IRLR 348 is no longer available.

Williams v University of Nottingham [2007] IRLR 660

Acted for the Appellant in a widely reported case concerning the territorial jurisdiction of claims under the Disability Discrimination Act.  The EAT held that the test applied in Lawson v Serco Ltd in respect of claims for unfair dismissal should apply to claims for discrimination.