Cases3315231/2023

Claimant v DX Network Services Limited

28 January 2025Before Employment Judge FrenchWatford

Outcome

Partly successful

Individual claims

Direct Discrimination(age)not determined

Respondent applied to strike out the age discrimination claim as out of time. The tribunal refused the strike-out application and decided that the time limit issue will be determined at the final hearing.

Constructive Dismissalfailed

The tribunal found that while it was not reasonably practicable for the claimant to present the claim within the applicable time limit, the claim was not presented within a further reasonable period thereafter. The claim was therefore dismissed as out of time.

Facts

Ms G Brown brought claims of constructive unfair dismissal and age discrimination against DX Network Services Limited. The respondent applied to strike out the age discrimination claim on time limit grounds. The claimant was represented by her daughter, Ms S Buck, while the respondent was represented by counsel, Ms A Arya. This was a preliminary hearing to determine time limit issues.

Decision

The tribunal refused to strike out the age discrimination claim and decided that the time limit issue would be determined at the final hearing. However, the constructive unfair dismissal claim was dismissed as out of time - while the tribunal accepted it was not reasonably practicable to present the claim in time, it found the claim was not presented within a further reasonable period.

Practical note

Even where a tribunal accepts that it was not reasonably practicable for a claimant to present an unfair dismissal claim in time, the claim can still be dismissed if it was not presented within a further reasonable period thereafter.

Legal authorities cited

Case details

Case number
3315231/2023
Decision date
28 January 2025
Hearing type
preliminary
Hearing days
1
Classification
contested

Respondent

Sector
logistics
Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister

Claimant representation

Represented
Yes
Rep type
lay rep