Building firm awarded costs against unreasonable employee

A building firm has successfully defended a claim from an “unreasonable” employee relating to expenses, deductions from wages and unfair dismissal. 

Just Build UK Limited was taken to the Employment Tribunal by Mr Bright Ampomah after it dismissed him from his job. 

Ampomah brought claims of unlawful deductions from wages, wrongful dismissal and breach of contract. 

He was ordered to set out in detail his wage and expenses claims. 

Ampomah then sent numerous emails amounting to a bundle of 951 pages. Many of the documents were unclear and contradictory making it difficult to understand what he was claiming to be owed in relation to both wages and expenses.  

Just Build requested the tribunal strike out the claim due to Mr Ampomah’s conduct. 

The tribunal granted the application. In his summary, Judge Lloyd-Lawrie said: “Providing different figures for wages claims, continuing to send large, unexplained contradictory documents, the failure to stop sending duplications of these documents. I find all to be unreasonable conduct.” 

The judge ruled that the unreasonable behaviour was deliberate, persistent and rendered a fair trial impossible. Ampomah was ordered to pay £3,200 towards Just Build’s legal costs. 

Please contact us if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of employment law.