Walsall Council discrimination decision due in weeks
Council discrimination decision due in weeks
George Makin The YamYam 17 Nov 09
The outcome of the latest expensive employment tribunals to have dogged Walsall Council is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.
The authority is awaiting the decision of the Carl Teasdale’s case which saw the authority employ five full-time lawyers for the ten-day hearing in fighting the former manger’s claims that he was constructively dismissed and suffered disability discrimination by the authority.
Mr Teasdale, who worked for the authority for 16 years, is rumoured to be claiming £400,000 damages from the council.
In 2007 the council was reported to have paid out over £125,000 to former finance officer Elizabeth McDonald who claimed disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, settling her case when the offer was made during tribunal proceedings.
A year earlier, it paid out £650,00 to Peter Francis after conceding his claim for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination.
The latest Birmingham hearing learned that 52 year-old Mr Teasdale received a four page leaked document which was part of an investigation by the district auditor into alleged breaches of procedure by the authority into its handling of employee relations.
Mr Teasdale told the tribunal it mentioned him by name but when he raised it with the council he said the authority ignored him, causing him undue stress leading to a nervous breakdown. He claimed the authority failed to address his health under the Disability Discrimination Act, ultimately forcing him to resign.
The tribunal was told that the document was made subject to clause Section 49 of the Audit Commission Act, making it illegal to disclose its contents. Although the banning order did not automatically apply to legal proceedings, Walsall Council successfully argued that the press and public should be excluded from the tribunal each time it was referred to in detail.
The tribunal is now expected to announce its findings on the case before Christmas and if it decides in favour of Mr Teasdale an announcement of damages could follow in the New Year.
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