Claimant v Secretary of State for Justice
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found the complaint of unfair dismissal was not well founded after considering the evidence over 8 hearing days. The dismissal was found to be fair and within the range of reasonable responses available to the respondent as the employer.
The complaint that the respondent discriminated against the claimant when deciding on a disciplinary sanction was found not to be well founded. The tribunal determined the sanction was not imposed for a discriminatory reason.
The remaining complaints made under the Equality Act 2010 were struck out because the tribunal did not have jurisdiction to determine them, indicating they were presented outside the statutory time limits.
Facts
Mrs Murray was employed by the Secretary of State for Justice and was dismissed following a disciplinary process. She brought claims for unfair dismissal and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, arguing the disciplinary sanction was discriminatory. The case was heard over 8 days between November 2024 and January 2025, with the claimant representing herself against counsel for the respondent.
Decision
The tribunal dismissed all of Mrs Murray's claims. The unfair dismissal claim and the discrimination claim relating to the disciplinary sanction were found not to be well founded. The remaining discrimination complaints were struck out for lack of jurisdiction, indicating they were out of time.
Practical note
A self-represented claimant in a public sector dismissal case lost on all grounds, with discrimination claims either failing on merits or being struck out for being out of time, highlighting the importance of meeting time limits and the challenges faced by litigants in person.
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 2502280/2023
- Decision date
- 17 January 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 8
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Name
- Secretary of State for Justice
- Sector
- central government
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- barrister
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No