Miss F E Ochea v Virgin Media Ltd HELD AT: Manchester — 2025

At a public preliminary hearing, the respondent applied to strike out all complaints or, alternatively, for deposit orders. The tribunal considered the claimant's written material and oral submissions, noting that the application was determined under the strike-out test and that factual disputes should generally be resolved at a final hearing.

The tribunal struck out specified direct sex discrimination and harassment complaints concerning the appointment and conduct of Mr Seaton during the appeal process. It found those complaints had no reasonable prospect of success, including because some allegations were inconsistent with the claimant's own documents, some were unsupported by identified facts, and one matter was not being pursued.

The tribunal also struck out the victimisation complaints, finding no factual basis for the alleged deception or conspiracy. Other complaints about questioning at the appeal hearing, requests for evidence, alleged amendments to notes, and failure to uphold the appeal were not struck out because the tribunal considered that factual disputes or uncertainty meant they should proceed.