Cases2407704/2023

Claimant v B&M Retail Limited

Outcome

Claimant fails

Individual claims

Otherstruck out

The claim was struck out under Rule 38(1)(c) for non-compliance with tribunal orders. The claimant failed to comply with the order made on 30 January 2024 and the revised timetable agreed and approved on 20 December 2024. The reconsideration application was refused as there was no reasonable prospect of varying or revoking the strike-out decision.

Facts

The claimant's underlying claim was struck out on 11 March 2025 for failure to comply with tribunal orders dating from 30 January 2024 and a revised timetable approved on 20 December 2024. The claimant applied for reconsideration on 15 April 2025, which was out of time. The claimant cited mental health issues and claimed his laptop was broken, preventing attendance at the hearing. However, the tribunal noted the laptop was sent for repair only on 14 April 2025, well after the hearing, and the claimant had been able to correspond by email throughout March and April 2025.

Decision

The tribunal refused the reconsideration application on the basis there was no reasonable prospect of the original strike-out decision being varied or revoked. The application was also out of time. The claimant's mental health had already been considered at the original hearing and his explanation for non-attendance was not credible given his ability to correspond by email.

Practical note

Tribunals will strictly enforce compliance with case management orders and reconsideration applications based on previously considered arguments or implausible explanations for non-compliance will be rejected on preliminary consideration.

Legal authorities cited

Ministry of Justice v Burton [2016] EWCA Civ 714Ebury Partners UK Limited v David [2023] EAT 40Liddington v 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust EAT/0002/16Lindsay v Ironsides Ray and Vials [1994] ICR 384Flint v Eastern Electricity Board [1975] ICR 395

Statutes

Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2024 Rule 38(1)(c)Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2024 Rule 3Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2024 Rule 70(2)Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2024 Rule 69Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2024 Rule 68

Case details

Case number
2407704/2023
Decision date
11 March 2025
Hearing type
reconsideration
Hearing days
1
Classification
procedural

Respondent

Sector
retail
Represented
No

Claimant representation

Represented
No