Claimant v Suffolk County Council
Outcome
Individual claims
Preliminary hearing determined only that the tribunal has jurisdiction to hear the claim because it was presented in time. The substantive merits of the unfair dismissal claim have not yet been determined.
Facts
Mrs Butcher brought an unfair dismissal claim against Suffolk County Council. The respondent challenged whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to hear the claim, arguing it was presented outside the statutory time limit. The claimant appeared in person while the respondent was represented by counsel.
Decision
The tribunal held a preliminary hearing on jurisdiction and determined that the claim was presented within the ordinary three-month time limit from the effective date of termination, as extended by the ACAS early conciliation provisions in section 207B ERA 1996. The tribunal therefore has jurisdiction to hear the unfair dismissal complaint.
Practical note
This preliminary hearing establishes only jurisdiction on time limit grounds; the substantive unfair dismissal claim remains to be determined at a future full merits hearing.
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 3305585/2024
- Decision date
- 5 March 2025
- Hearing type
- preliminary
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Name
- Suffolk County Council
- Sector
- local government
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- barrister
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No