Cases2404943/2024

Claimant v Suez Recycling and Recovery (UK) Limited

14 July 2025Before Employment Judge DunlopManchester

Outcome

Partly successful

Individual claims

Unfair Dismissalnot determined

Respondent's strike-out application on the basis of no reasonable prospects of success was rejected by the tribunal. The claim will proceed to a final hearing to be determined on the merits.

Direct Discriminationstruck out

Discrimination complaints relating to matters pre-dating the dismissal on 19 June 2024 were struck out as out of time, with no reasonable prospect of establishing continuing act or just and equitable extension.

Direct Discriminationnot determined

Discrimination complaints arising out of the dismissal itself survived the strike-out application and will proceed to final hearing. Tribunal rejected respondent's argument that they had no reasonable prospects of success.

Facts

Ms Whyte was dismissed by Suez Recycling and Recovery (UK) Limited on 19 June 2024. She brought claims of unfair dismissal and discrimination. The discrimination claims included allegations relating to matters both before and arising from the dismissal itself. The respondent applied to strike out the claims on the basis they had no reasonable prospects of success, or alternatively for a deposit order.

Decision

The tribunal struck out discrimination complaints relating to pre-dismissal matters as out of time with no reasonable prospect of establishing continuing act or just and equitable extension. However, the unfair dismissal claim and discrimination complaints arising from the dismissal itself survived, with the tribunal rejecting both the strike-out application and deposit order application. These claims will proceed to final hearing.

Practical note

At preliminary hearings on strike-out applications, tribunals will carefully distinguish between time-barred historical complaints and in-time claims, allowing arguable claims to proceed to full merits hearing even where the respondent contests prospects of success.

Legal authorities cited

Case details

Case number
2404943/2024
Decision date
14 July 2025
Hearing type
preliminary
Hearing days
1
Classification
contested

Respondent

Sector
waste management
Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister

Claimant representation

Represented
No