Cases2401264/2024

Claimant v Daisy Corporate Services Trading Limited

9 April 2025Before Employment Judge EeleyManchesterremote video

Outcome

Claimant fails

Individual claims

Constructive Dismissalstruck out

Claim struck out for non-pursuit. The claimant repeatedly failed to comply with tribunal orders, including an order to provide medical evidence to support his postponement application. The tribunal found the breaches were intentional or contumelious and that there had been inordinate and inexcusable delay causing serious prejudice to the respondent.

Discrimination Arising from Disability (s.15)(disability)struck out

Claim struck out for non-pursuit. The claim lacked particularity and the claimant failed to provide medical evidence to establish disability status despite repeated tribunal orders. The tribunal found deliberate and persistent disregard for orders and concluded there was a substantial risk that a fair hearing was not possible given the delay and prejudice to the respondent.

Breach of Contractstruck out

Claims for other payments struck out alongside the main claims due to the claimant's failure to actively pursue the case and comply with tribunal orders.

Facts

The claimant was employed as an account manager in sales from February 2022 to November 2023. He filed claims of constructive unfair dismissal, disability discrimination (relying on complex PTSD, survivor syndrome, and depression), and other payments in February 2024. The respondent applied to strike out the unfair dismissal claim on grounds of insufficient service. The claimant repeatedly failed to comply with tribunal orders, most significantly an order to provide medical evidence in support of a postponement application granted in September 2024. Despite multiple warnings, extensions, and a strike-out warning, the claimant did not provide the required evidence or adequately explain his non-compliance.

Decision

The tribunal struck out all of the claimant's claims under Rule 38(1)(d) for failure to actively pursue the claim and Rule 38(1)(c) for non-compliance with orders. The judge found the breaches were intentional or contumelious, and that there had been inordinate and inexcusable delay causing serious prejudice to the respondent. Key witnesses had left the respondent's employment, and the quality of evidence would be significantly diminished by further delay. The tribunal was not satisfied that the claimant's claimed medical condition (complex PTSD) adequately explained his failures, noting inconsistencies between his written submissions and oral evidence, and the absence of any supporting medical documentation.

Practical note

Unrepresented claimants with mental health conditions must still demonstrate genuine attempts to comply with tribunal orders, providing contemporaneous evidence of efforts made; repeated failures coupled with inconsistent explanations will result in strike-out even where a disability is claimed.

Legal authorities cited

Weir Valves & Control (UK) Ltd v Armitage [2004] ICR 371Blockbuster Entertainment Ltd v James [2006] EWCA Civ 684Evans v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1993 ICR 151Birkett v James 1978 AC 297Rolls Royce PLC v Riddle [2008] IRLRKhan v London Borough of Barnet [2018] UKEAT/0002/18/DAPeixoto v British Telecommunication PLC UKEAT 0222/07Riley v Crown Prosecution Service [2013] IRLR 966

Statutes

Rule 3 Employment Tribunal Rules of ProcedureRule 38 Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure

Case details

Case number
2401264/2024
Decision date
9 April 2025
Hearing type
strike out
Hearing days
1
Classification
procedural

Respondent

Sector
telecoms
Represented
Yes
Rep type
solicitor

Employment details

Role
account manager
Service
2 years

Claimant representation

Represented
No