Cases3201548/2024

Claimant v London Underground Limited

24 November 2025Before Employment Judge MassarellaEast Londonremote video

Outcome

Claimant fails

Individual claims

Unfair Dismissalnot determined

This claim was not determined in the present judgment which dealt only with a strike-out application relating to the unauthorised deduction from wages claim.

Automatic Unfair Dismissalnot determined

This claim was not determined in the present judgment which dealt only with a strike-out application relating to the unauthorised deduction from wages claim.

Direct Discrimination(disability)not determined

This claim was not determined in the present judgment which dealt only with a strike-out application relating to the unauthorised deduction from wages claim.

Indirect Discrimination(disability)not determined

This claim was not determined in the present judgment which dealt only with a strike-out application relating to the unauthorised deduction from wages claim.

Direct Discrimination(disability)not determined

This claim was not determined in the present judgment which dealt only with a strike-out application relating to the unauthorised deduction from wages claim.

Failure to Make Reasonable Adjustments(disability)not determined

This claim was not determined in the present judgment which dealt only with a strike-out application relating to the unauthorised deduction from wages claim.

Victimisationnot determined

This claim was not determined in the present judgment which dealt only with a strike-out application relating to the unauthorised deduction from wages claim.

Unlawful Deduction from Wagesstruck out

The tribunal found that the claim for unauthorised deduction of sick pay between 18 June and 17 October 2022 was res judicata, having been determined by a previous tribunal which found the sick pay was not properly payable during that period because the claimant failed to comply with sickness absence procedures. The tribunal held that this created a cause of action estoppel preventing the claim from being re-opened. Alternatively, the claim had no reasonable prospects of success.

Breach of Contractwithdrawn

The claimant withdrew this claim by email dated 4 March 2025 and it was dismissed at a preliminary hearing on 14 August 2025 before Employment Judge Hook.

Direct Discrimination(race)withdrawn

The claimant withdrew this claim by email dated 4 March 2025 and it was dismissed at a preliminary hearing on 14 August 2025 before Employment Judge Hook.

Indirect Discrimination(race)withdrawn

The claimant withdrew this claim by email dated 4 March 2025 and it was dismissed at a preliminary hearing on 14 August 2025 before Employment Judge Hook.

Direct Discrimination(sex)withdrawn

The claimant withdrew this claim by email dated 4 March 2025 and it was dismissed at a preliminary hearing on 14 August 2025 before Employment Judge Hook.

Indirect Discrimination(sex)withdrawn

The claimant withdrew this claim by email dated 4 March 2025 and it was dismissed at a preliminary hearing on 14 August 2025 before Employment Judge Hook.

Facts

The claimant was employed by London Underground as a Customer Service Manager from 2004 until her dismissal for capability on 13 March 2024 following long-term sickness absence. This was her fourth employment tribunal claim against the respondent. A previous tribunal (case 3205396/2022) had determined that sick pay was not properly payable to the claimant between 18 June and 17 October 2022 because she failed to comply with sickness absence procedures. The claimant brought a fresh claim for unauthorised deduction of wages relating to the same period of sick pay.

Decision

The tribunal struck out the unauthorised deduction from wages claim on the basis that it was res judicata. The previous tribunal had already determined as a matter of fact and law that the sick pay for the relevant period was not properly payable and had rejected the legal claim. This created a cause of action estoppel. The claimant's argument that the sick pay should have been reinstated following a disciplinary hearing was rejected as misconceived and the claim was also struck out as having no reasonable prospects of success.

Practical note

A claimant cannot re-litigate a claim for unauthorised deduction of wages relating to the same period and same facts already determined by a previous tribunal, even if they seek to rely on different contractual arguments about what should have happened subsequently.

Legal authorities cited

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

Statutes

ERA 1996 s.13

Case details

Case number
3201548/2024
Decision date
24 November 2025
Hearing type
strike out
Hearing days
4
Classification
procedural

Respondent

Sector
transport
Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister

Employment details

Role
Customer Service Manager
Service
20 years

Claimant representation

Represented
Yes
Rep type
lay rep