IN THE EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL AT LONDON

CASE NO.: 2202562/2002-10-13

BETWEEN:-

 

 

                        DAVID BEAUMONT                                   APPLICANT

  AND

                              AMICUS MSF                                         RESPONDENT

 

 

APPLICATION THAT COSTS BE AWARDED IN FAVOUR OF THE APPLICANT

 

 

 

I maintain that the respondents have acted unreasonably from the beginning of my case.  In particular

All this has caused me the maximum amount of work in preparing my case.   I ask that my costs be awarded.  Here is a chronological history of the unreasonable behavior.

.

 

18th June Mr. Pinder of EAD wrote to say "I may ask the tribunal to arrange a pre-hearing review of your application, as in my view and on the basis of your currently pleaded case it is wholly misconceived".  Yet here we are conceding…

 

21st August I am telephoned by the tribunal and told that Mr. Pinder has made an application to postpone the case.  Mr. Pinder did not copy me in on that application.

 

22nd August at the directions hearing I complain to the chair Mr. Solomons about the above.  He reminds Miss K Newton of EAD that they should copy me in on such applications.

 

22nd August. At the Directions hearing Miss K Newton of EAD brings up the charge of anti-Semitism against me.  This charge is wholly false and offensive and has never been withdrawn, even though the respondents are now pleading guilty.

 

9th September - the first deadline set at the Directions hearing.  I provide the respondents with my further and better particulars the day before.  At the same time I write and request the essential documents that have been withheld from me, (for example the investigation report!), to this day in fact.

 

14th September I am re-instated.  I write to the respondents the next day to say that the respondents appear to have admitted to me that my expulsion was illegal and therefore we should have an extremely short hearing without witnesses, please would they confirm.

 

16th September the second deadline, this time for disclosure of documents.  EAD have not sent me the essential documents I need, for example the minutes of the meeting at which I was expelled and the investigation report given to the GPFC which started my expulsion process.

 

18th September EAD write to tell me that "In view of the fact that your appeal has been allowed concludes the internal procedure, so that in fact , no disciplinary action has been taken against you by my clients".  They ask me to withdraw my claim.  They further state that they will request a preliminary hearing to decide the above.    They insist that if I continue they will defend the claim and that I am being vexatious.  EAD conclude "my clients do not admit that you were subject to unjustifiable discipline".  Yet here we are conceding…

 

24th September I receive from EAD an extract from a letter they have written to the tribunal, which now appears to argue that although |I have been disciplined it is within the terms of my contract with the respondent and my seven months of expulsion is an "event which has no current practical significance".

 

27th September EAD write to the Tribunal to say that "if the matter does proceed to a substantive hearing the respondents will clearly need to disclose documents relevant to the disciplinary procedure, and these items will be exchanged with the applicant without the need for any order."  I only get the letter because the Tribunal copy me in on their reply.   I have not received these documents to this day.

 

30th September, the deadline for the Respondents to prepare and agree a bundle of documents.  No response from EAD.

 

1st October I write to EAD to as again for disclosure of the documents, and ask who their witnesses will be.  I attach a list of my witnesses.

 

7th October.  the deadline for us to exchange witness statements.  I provide EAD with my 3 witnesses statements.  Without the missing documents I am unable to complete my own documents.  EAD do not provide me with any witness documents. 

 

7th October EAD write to me to explain to me that "it is wrong to say that the appeal was not heard" and that "to suggest it was not an appeal is unrealistic, in that you attended with your representative and with material to present an appeal".

 

7th October I write to the respondents offering a settlement in which I will not pursue them for compensation if they undertake to cease all outstanding disciplinary action against me.

 

7th October I discover that EAD have again applied for postponement without copying me in.  I deduce this from the tribunal's reply to them denying the application, copied to me.

 

8th October I remind EAD that I have not received the essential documents yet.  I also ask for sight of their list of documents.

 

8th October I respond positively to the respondents without prejudice suggested statement to settle the case.  All that I ask is changed in  the statement is that  “of the allegations which were raised against him and which led to” is replaced by “actions by Mr Beaumont prior to”, a minor change.  I require only that I am protected from future discipline for past actions.  Again I am willing to agree not to persue the respondents for compensation and also not to litigate against them for the anti-Semitism libel. 

 

8th October.  In a further concession and in an attempt to agree a settlement statement, I write that I am also prepared to limit my protection to my past actions that are known about by the respondents.  They decline. 

 

9th October EAD make their third application for postponement.  Again I am not copied in but at least this time EAD do tell me they are doing it.  In fact they tell me, without prejudice, that if this application is refused they will promptly concede the case.

 

10th October.  True to their word EAD, having had their postponement application declined, immediately concede the case, one working day before the hearing is to start.