M Robison Miss A MacKie v Hanover Housing Association — 2018

The claimant presented a claim on 20 November 2017 alleging unfair dismissal. The respondent lodged a defence on 20 December 2017. The tribunal then sought further information from the claimant on 27 December 2017, but she did not reply.

After an email from the respondent on 16 January 2018 asking that the claim be struck out, the tribunal wrote again on 30 January 2018 seeking a response by 6 February 2018. A further letter dated 15 March 2018 asked the claimant to confirm by 22 March 2018 whether she intended to pursue the claim. She replied by email on 23 March 2018, explaining that she considered there were arguable complaints within the tribunal's jurisdiction and that she had been unable to obtain a lawyer because of her financial situation, but that she had found one and would be continuing.

The tribunal noted that neither the claimant nor any representative contacted it after that email. The respondent renewed its strike-out application on 27 April 2018, and the tribunal asked for an update and confirmation of representation by 4 May 2018. No reply was received. The respondent renewed the application again on 16 May 2018.

On 24 May 2018 the tribunal gave the claimant a further opportunity to provide written reasons by 31 May 2018, or to request a hearing on why the claim should not be struck out. No response was received. The tribunal held that the claimant had failed to give an acceptable reason why judgment should not be made or to request a hearing, and struck out the unfair dismissal claim as not actively pursued.