Ms C Summers v Richmond House Care Home — 2026

At an open preliminary hearing, the Tribunal considered time-limit issues affecting Ms Summers's claims following her summary dismissal by Richmond House Care Home on 23 April 2025. The unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal and direct race discrimination claims were presented outside their primary time limits. The respondent accepted that the victimisation claims, concerning information allegedly passed to two other employers in late June and early July 2025, were in time.

The Tribunal dismissed the unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal claims. It accepted that Ms Summers experienced shame and depressive feelings after her dismissal, but found that it had nevertheless been reasonably practicable for her to present those claims in time. She had sought advice within the three-month period, had a general awareness that legal time limits existed and could reasonably have taken further steps earlier. The Tribunal also stated that, had it needed to decide the issue, it would have found that the later claim was not presented within a reasonable further period after she was advised to contact ACAS.

The Tribunal permitted the direct race discrimination claim to proceed under the just and equitable extension. It found that the delay was not particularly significant, that Ms Summers's shame and depressive feelings had a real bearing on her approach, and that the delay was not expected to affect the cogency of the evidence or the hearing timetable. In balancing prejudice, it noted that refusal would materially prejudice Ms Summers, while Richmond House Care Home already had to address the victimisation claim and much of the evidence would be common to both claims. The direct race discrimination and victimisation claims were therefore directed to proceed to the already-fixed final hearing dates; no merits determination or monetary remedy was made.