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United Kingdom Employment Appeal Tribunal |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> United Kingdom Employment Appeal Tribunal >> Lerica v. British Telecommunications Plc & Ors [2003] UKEAT 1492_01_1004 (10 April 2003) URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKEAT/2003/1492_01_1004.html Cite as: [2003] UKEAT 1492_01_1004, [2003] UKEAT 1492_1_1004 |
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At the Tribunal | |
On 13 February 2003 | |
Before
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE RIMER
MR I EZEKIEL
SIR GAVIN LAIRD CBE
APPELLANT | |
(2) KELLY SERVICES (UK) LIMITED (3) IMAGINATION LIMITED |
RESPONDENT |
Transcript of Proceedings
JUDGMENT
Revised
For the Appellant For the First Respondent: British Telecommunications Plc |
MISS NICOLA BRAGANZA (of Counsel) Instructed By: Messrs Hereward & Foster Solicitors 101 Barking Road Canning Town London E16 4HQ NO APPEARANCE OR REPRESENTATION BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST RESPONDENT |
For the Second Respondent: Kelly Services (UK) Limited For the Third Respondent: Imagination Limited |
MRS LINDA GOLDMAN (of Counsel) Instructed By: Kelly Services (UK) Ltd Advisory Consulting & Training Associates Limited 4 Crafton Mentmore Nr. Wing Bucks LU7 0QL MISS CATHERINE CALLAGHAN (of Counsel) Instructed By: The Simkins Partnership Solicitors 45-51 Whitfield Street London W1T 4HB |
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE RIMER:
"25. [Miss Lerica] claims less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the [SDA] and that she has been subjected to detriment contrary to Section 6 of the [SDA]. This is both in relation to the sexual harassment that she has suffered and also in the way in which [BT] and [Kelly] responded to her complaint of harassment.
26. [Miss Lerica] also claims less favourable treatment on the grounds of race contrary to Section 1(1)(a) Race Relations Act 1976 and that she has been subjected to detriment contrary to Section 4 Race Relations Act 1976. This claim includes the way in which her complaints were dealt with by [BT] and [Kelly]."
"Preliminary Hearing
9. A preliminary hearing will take place on 29 August 2001 in order for a Tribunal to consider whether [Imagination] is properly joined as a Respondent, having regard to sections 4, 7, 32 and 33 of the Race Relations Act 1976 and sections 6, 9, 41 and 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975."
"9. Discrimination against contract workers
(1) This section applies to any work for a person ('the principal') which is available for doing by individuals ('contract workers') who are employed not by the principal himself but by another person, who supplies them under a contract made with the principal.
(2) It is unlawful for the principal, in relation to work to which this section applies, to discriminate against a woman who is a contract worker-
…
(d) by subjecting her to any other detriment. …
41 Liability of employers and principals
(1) Anything done by a person in the course of his employment shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as done by his employer as well as by him, whether or not it was done with his employer's knowledge or approval.
(2) Anything done by a person as agent for another person with the authority (whether express or implied, and whether precedent or subsequent) of that other person shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as done by that other person as well as by him.
(3) In proceedings brought under this Act against any person in respect of an act alleged to have been done by an employee of his it shall be a defence for that person to prove that he took such steps as were reasonably practicable to prevent the employee from doing that act, or from doing in the course of his employment acts of that description.
42 Aiding unlawful acts
(1) A person who knowingly aids another person to do an act made unlawful by this Act shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as himself doing an unlawful act of the like description.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) an employee or agent for whose act the employer or principal is liable under section 41 (or would be so liable but for section 41(3)) shall be deemed to aid the doing of the act by the employer or principal. …"
"4. Section 6 of the [SDA] deals with discrimination by employers against employees or prospective employees and section 9 deals with discrimination against workers who are contracted to another employer. [Miss Lerica] accepted before us that she has never been an employee of [Imagination] and had had no contractual relationship with them whatsoever. Employment in the Act is defined at section 82(1) and [Miss Lerica] cannot be said to come within that definition because of this lack of any contractual relationship to carry out any service, work or labour for [Imagination].
5. It seems to the Tribunal that the situation which we are presented with is one where the issue, inter alia, before the main Tribunal will be the extent to which [BT] and/or [Kelly] can be held to be liable for the acts of the employee of [Imagination] who is a third party with no contractual nexus with [Miss Lerica] at all. Pursuant to section 41(1) of the Act an employer's secondary liability is limited to discriminatory acts committed by his employees in the course of their employment. The extension to primary liability characterised in cases such as Burton v. De Vere Hotels Ltd ICR 1 may mean that there is the possibility of a valid claim against the employer if the necessary test is passed but there is no suggestion in that case or indeed any other that liability may be extended so that the third party might validly be joined. Accordingly we find that [Imagination] has not been properly joined and we dismiss all claims against them."
"2. That issue which we accordingly direct is whether, on the basis of what we were told by Ms Sivanandan, who appeared today before us for [Miss Lerica], about the way the case was presented to the Tribunal on 29 August by Ms Lerica, the Applicant who was appearing in person on that date, it was an error of law for the Employment Tribunal to determine the preliminary issue of whether [Imagination] was joined as a proper party to the proceedings, and immediately to dismiss the proceedings against it, on the basis only of the case alleged in the original Originating Application dated 9 February 2001 and the statutory provisions referred to in the Tribunal's Extended Reasons of 17 October 2001, and without regard to the additional factual case sought to be made against [Imagination] by Ms Lerica for knowingly aiding acts of discrimination under sections 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and section 33 of the Race Relations Act 1976 as identified in the paragraph beginning 'It is my case' in [Miss Lerica's] written submission presented to the Tribunal on 29 August 2001 which has been produced to us." (Our emphasis)
"6. In the circumstances we will direct that the Chairman should be supplied with a copy of the transcript of this judgment and [Miss Lerica's] 'written submission' for the Tribunal Hearing on 29 August 2001 and invited to give any comments he thinks fit for the assistance of the Appeal Tribunal on the extent to which the additional basis of claim against [Imagination] identified at the end of that document was sought to be relied on by [Miss Lerica] at that hearing."
"4. I am able to inform the Court that I read the entire document to the tribunal word for word and call [sic] recall that the Chairman asked me what 'Acts' I was relying upon with regard to [Imagination]. In response to his question, I re-read aloud all of the sections in the submission that related to the said 'Acts'. I believe that the chair and panel members made notes when I was speaking and may have recorded what I read out about section 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Section 33 of the Race Relations Act 1976."
"I believe that [Imagination] are correctly joined in this matter due to the fact that Section 32 of the 1976 Act and Section 41 of the 1975 Act state that employers, agent or principals are liable for any acts done by a person in the course of employment/work. Their acts are treated as if they were acts of the employer, agent, or principal."
"It is my case that [Imagination] aided Mr Baker to carry out the discriminatory Acts by not disciplining him and encouraging his behaviour. I refer to the letter above, which clearly shows that [Imagination] were aware of the behaviour but choose not to deal with it. I refer the tribunal to my Notice of Application. In addition I am able to provide other example."
"1). No written submission on behalf of [Miss Lerica] was submitted to the Tribunal on 29 August 2001. The written records indicate this as does my own clear recollection. The only skeleton argument put in was on behalf of [Imagination].
2). At no stage was there any indication from [Miss Lerica] that she had prepared a written argument. Had she done so I would have asked her to either read the same or alternatively hand the same in for the Tribunal to read. I would also have directed that the other parties should be given a copy to enable them to make representations thereon. I understand from correspondence on the Tribunal file that [Imagination] at least had no knowledge of written submission from [Miss Lerica].
3). I did not observe [Miss Lerica] reading from a pre-prepared script. Had I done so again I would have carried out the steps at (2) above.
4). I am quite sure that the information contained within [Miss Lerica's] written submission was not relied upon. If it had been referred to orally by [Miss Lerica] it would be in my notes of evidence. It is not.
5). I recall clearly that [Miss Lerica] was nervous and almost reticent in making any submissions. The statements made and recorded in the notes of evidence came from my questioning of her rather than any attempt by her to make submissions as such.
6). I am quite sure that [Miss Lerica] was given every opportunity to make whatever submissions she wanted. I am mindful to the difficulties litigants in person face and always ensure that they have said all they wish.
7). The detail contained with the 'written submission' is new to me e.g reference to a letter dated 8 May 2001. Had that specific letter been referred to it would be in the notes of evidence. It is not.
In conclusion, I am able to say that I am sure that the 'written submission' was not put to the Tribunal at the hearing of 29 August 2001. If it had been it would have been carefully considered."
"It is clearly right that where the parties cannot agree between themselves upon the accuracy or inaccuracy of the notes of a court that the version given by the court should remain supreme. In the absence of some such rule it would be impossible to keep any control over the number of continuing issues on the subject."
"24. … For my part such vagaries in discrimination jurisprudence underline the importance of not striking out such claims as an abuse of the process except in the most obvious and plainest cases. Discrimination cases are generally fact-sensitive, and their proper determination is always vital in our pluralistic society. In this field perhaps more than any other the bias in favour of a claim being examined on the merits or demerits of its particular facts is a matter of high public interest. Against this background it is necessary to explain why on the allegations made the by the appellants it would be wrong to strike out their claims against the university."
"5. … A person aids another if he helps or assists him … While any gloss on the clear statutory language is better avoided, the subsection points towards a relationship of co-operation or collaboration; …
In the same case (at [2001] 1 WLR 654), Lord Millett said:
"49. … But aiding is a very different concept from encouraging or inducing on the one hand and causing or procuring on the other. It requires a much closer involvement in the act of the principal."
"9. … But the judge was at pains to point out that section 33(1) [of the RRA] required more than a general attitude of helpfulness and co-operation. As he accurately put it: 'The Act requires them to have knowingly aided the council to do an act made unlawful by the Act.'"
Lord Millett too emphasised the importance of correctly identifying the action of the principal which the accessory is said to have aided. He also said (at [2001] 1 WLR 661):
"18. … The man who helps another to make up his mind does not thereby and without more help the other to do that which he decides to do. He may advise, encourage, incite or induce him to do the act; but he does not aid him to do it. As I said [in the Anyanwu case] aiding requires a much closer involvement in the actual act of the principal than do either encouraging or inducing on the one hand or causing or procuring on the other."