Claimant 'hit tribunal chairman with chair'

Those who hear discrimination claims are in a challenging role. Complicated legal rules and high stakes litigation combine to put a lot of pressure on them. Many claimants invest a lot of emotion in such cases, and no employer wants to be named publicly as having discriminated against someone.

That said, all that is nothing compared with the behaviour an Employment Tribunal chairman in London apparently faced. According to this report in the Daily Telegraph, Dr Jeevan Mehta hit the chairman with a chair after being asked for more details to support his claims of discrimination against the University of London.

It was alleged that during the Employment Tribunal hearing he battered the tribunal chairman, Christopher Carstairs, shouting: 'I'm disgusted by this man, white man, bloody racist.'

Solicitor Anna Coultas said the Indian doctor's temper suddenly flared during a case management hearing, when he was asked for further particulars of his claim. "Things were all proceeding as normal but Dr Mehta was getting frustrated with the order," she said. "His voice got louder. He started to get antsy."

She said Dr Mehta got up from his seat and dismissed the proceedings as a joke. "He went to pick up a jug of water. I thought he was going to empty it over the chair's head", she said. "He said he was going to -- kill him."

Miss Coultas said she "felt scared" and went to the front desk to get help. When security said it was not their responsibility, she returned to the tribunal to see Dr Mehta standing behind his desk with the chair on the floor between him and the chairman.

"The chair was on its side on the floor. It wasn't in that position when I left the room." It is alleged that while she was away, he walked towards Mr Carstairs, before picking up a chair and striking him with it.

Dr Mehta now faces misconduct charges brought by the General Medical Council, which has power to suspend or cancel his registration as a doctor.

It makes you wonder whether it's worthwhile being a judge.

 

Greg Cain

 

Greg Cain is an employment lawyer at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.

 

 

Photo / Brett Phibbs