Claimant v Accenture UK Limited

Outcome

Facts

This was the third claim brought by the claimant against Accenture UK Limited. Her two previous claims had been struck out — one for unreasonable conduct and non-compliance, and one as an abuse of process. This third claim, filed July 2023, was characterised by persistent non-attendance at hearings, changing representatives (some of questionable authority), claims of lost passports and homelessness, and a pattern of last-minute excuses. The claimant failed to attend five case management hearings, did not comply with tribunal orders, and did not attend the strike-out hearing despite it being scheduled to accommodate her needs.

Decision

Employment Judge Forde struck out the claim under Rules 37(1)(b), (c), (d) and (e). The judge found the claimant's conduct was unreasonable, scandalous and vexatious; she had persistently failed to comply with tribunal orders; she was not actively pursuing her claim; and it was no longer possible to have a fair hearing. The judge described this as 'difficult to think of a more egregious example of non-compliance and non-engagement by a litigant before the tribunal.'

Practical note

Legal authorities cited