(1) Ms. I. Nikopoulou (2) Mr. I. Okorodudu v The Institute of Physics — 2023

This was a short judgment on a preliminary disability issue for Ms. Nikopoulou. The tribunal recorded that multiple sclerosis is a deemed disability under Schedule 1 paragraph 6 of the Equality Act 2010, so the main dispute was the relevant date of diagnosis and whether she was disabled at the time of the alleged acts. The claimant gave evidence that symptoms began in February 2020, that she was told she had clinically isolated syndrome in August 2020, and that she experienced further symptoms including partial blindness in January 2021 and mobility problems in May 2021.

The tribunal relied on two letters from Professor Ciccarelli and the claimant's oral evidence. It accepted that the first claimant had relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and concluded that she was diagnosed around January or May 2021 and certainly by November 2021. It therefore found that she was a disabled person within the meaning of section 6 Equality Act 2010 at the relevant time. The judgment did not determine any discrimination liability, unfair dismissal issue, or monetary award.