Equality Act 2010: Themis Member successfully defends the Glasgow Housing Association

Themis member Michael Upton acted for the successful defenders in a case brought under the Equality Act 2010 by the housing charity Shelter.  The pursuer, Jacqueline Thomson, sued for damages from Scotland’s largest residential landlord, the Glasgow Housing Association. 

Miss Thomson averred that she had applied to the Association for housing as a disabled person.  However, while her application was pending, she had also become homeless.  The Association grouped applications by disabled persons and homeless persons separately; waiting time in a group counted towards being offered a dwelling, but an applicant who moved from one group to another lost the waiting time that she had accrued in the group which she was leaving. 

She brought an action for indirect discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments for her as a disabled person, under sections 15 and 19-21 of the 2010 Act. 

By judgment dated 4 August Sheriff Kelly has dismissed the action.

The Sheriff accepted that, as matter of relevantly averring a loss which could sound in damages, the pursuer’s averments of being deprived of a substantially greater chance of obtaining a dwelling were relevant for inquiry. 

However, her pleadings failed to identify a provision, criterion or practice of the Association which it was said should have been different.  Moreover, the averments of indirect discrimination were irrelevant; the pursuer compared the longer waiting time for disabled applicants with shorter waiting time for homeless applicants, but that did not compare like with like, because there are fewer dwellings suitable for disabled applicants.

The pursuer also pled breach of the public-sector equality duty imposed by section 149.  The Sheriff rejected a plea that that part of her claim was time-barred.  He held that when the six-month time-bar for proceedings under the Act had elapsed, her pleadings about section 149 had been sufficient to amount to a relevant claim, so as to stop the running of time against her. 

However, he also held that the Sheriff Court does not have jurisdiction over a claim for failure to comply with the public-sector equality duty.  That would seem to mean that section 149 is a matter which an aggrieved individual may only invoke in an application for judicial review, or as incidentally relevant to action for breach of another duty under the Act.

A parallel action by Miss Thomson against Glasgow City Council arising from its handling of her housing application was also dismissed.

Steven Walker KC to speak at the flagship event of Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC)

We are delighted to invite you to attend the flagship event of Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC) “International ADR Week 2022” with the most excited topic that you are looking for “Arbitration and ADR Beyond the Pandemic”. 

The webinar is entitled “Arbitration and ADR Beyond the Pandemic” and will feature Steven Walker QC of Themis Advocates.

14th July 2022 at 10:00 – 18:00 (GMT+7 Thailand time)

Please register from this link here

Newsletter

Description

Themis Advocates are committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information. By using your information, we hope we can provide the news, content, products and services you’re interested in. The use of your information helps us understand what your needs and interests are, provide you with relevant content, and let you know about our events and services.

Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect and use information about you.

You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at clerks@themis-advocates.co.uk.

Employment Law Conference

Friday 24th May 2024

The Royal Mile, 80 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1TH

Themis Advocates are delighted to invite you to attend our Employment Law Conference on Friday 24th May at the Radisson Blu, High Street, Edinburgh from 1pm-5pm.  The event is free to attend, open to all solicitors, trainees and paralegals and you will be accredited 3 hours CPD.

PROGRAMME

1300 hrs – Registration & Refreshments

1330 hrsKaterina SteinCase Law Update

1415 hrs – Catherine MacColl – Venturing beyond the contract – the quest for the true agreement in employment relationships

1500 hrs – Refreshment Break

1520 hrsDavid James – Whistleblowing Update

1600 hrsTim Haddow Free Speech and the Workplace

1645 hrs – Conclusion

1700 hrs – Drinks & Canapés to which all attendees are invited

To book your place please register here: