Mr A Hovord v The Commissioners of HM Revenue and Customs: 1404838/2021

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS
Case No 1404838/2021Venue CHAMBERS AT ExeterHearing 9 May 2023
Mr A HovordClaimantThe Commissioners of HM Revenue and CustomsRespondent
Employment Judge N J RoperNot represented for claimantMs S Hornblower (instructed by Counsel) for respondentDate 9 May 2023

JUDGMENT

The unanimous judgment of the tribunal is that having considered all information which has been made available to it, and on the non- attendance of the claimant, the claimant’s claim is hereby dismissed pursuant to Rule 47 of the Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2013.

REASONS

The claimant has a long history of non-compliance with Tribunal orders, and failure to attend agreed hearings, both during his employment and during the conduct of this case. He presented these proceedings on 22 December 2021. The length and venue for this hearing was agreed at a case management hearing on 24 August 2022. The claimant faced a number of applications for strike out and/or unless orders for repeated non-compliance with Tribunal orders. He failed to attend a third case management hearing on 24 April 2023, following which he made repeated applications for postponement of this hearing on 24 and 26 April and 1 and 3 May 2023. These were for a variety of reasons including not being able to get time off work; not agreeing the (previously agreed) hearing venue; not being able to comply with directions; and/or because he was unwell. All of these applications were refused. The claimant made it clear that if the Case No. 1404838/2021 postponement were not to be granted then he would withdraw his claim. He also confirmed by email that he did not intend to attend at this hearing today.