Miss J Barton v Steven Heyworth News HELD AT: Manchester — 2025

The Tribunal listed the final hearing of Miss J Barton's complaints of unfair dismissal, protected disclosure detriment and other claims. The hearing had been re-listed after a preliminary hearing on 28 June 2024. At that earlier hearing, an order was made requiring the respondent to confirm the identity of the respondent and provide an address for the individual, if not a limited company, trading as the respondent and employing the claimant; the Tribunal recorded that the respondent did not comply with that order.

The Tribunal also recorded that both parties were required to confirm by 20 December 2024 that case management orders had been complied with and that they were ready for the hearing, but neither party did so. The Tribunal wrote to both parties on 3 January 2025 to ascertain the position. On 5 January 2025 the claimant emailed saying she was now homeless and would not attend because of 'weather and travel'; nothing was received from the respondent.

Neither party attended or was represented at the final hearing on 7 January 2025. After considering the information available and the reason given for the claimant's absence, the Tribunal applied rule 47 of the 2013 Rules of Procedure and dismissed the claimant's claims. No remedy was awarded.