Mrs C Lewis v Axiom Ince Limited (in administration) In chambers — 2025

Mrs C Lewis brought claims recorded in the reasons as protective award, unfair dismissal, and notice pay/breach of contract. The judgment notes that her claim form was presented on 29 April 2024, that she identified 9 November 2023 as her dismissal date, and that ACAS conciliation did not begin until April 2024. On the face of the papers, the tribunal considered the relevant three-month time limits to have been missed.

A public preliminary hearing was listed to address the time limit points. The tribunal records that notice of hearing and the CVP link were emailed to the claimant, and that when she did not attend the clerk telephoned her. She said she was at work and in meetings, and later emailed that she was not aware of the hearing and had previously had problems receiving emails from LeedsET. The judge waited until 12.10 to allow time for her to join.

Applying Rule 47, and weighing the circumstances, the tribunal dismissed the claims in the interests of justice because the claimant did not attend. The judge observed that the claims appeared to face time limit hurdles and may have had limited value after mitigation, including possible statutory payments and new employment, but no substantive merits findings were made. The judgment also notes that if the claimant sought reconsideration, she would need to provide witness evidence and the relevant documents on the time limit issue before any revived hearing could proceed.