Cepac Ltd and Page Outsourcing UK Ltd

Case Summary

The claimant brought a discrimination claim alleging the first respondent failed to invite him to interview because of his disability. The tribunal found the claimant's conduct of proceedings to be unreasonable, scandalous and vexatious, including repeated non-attendance at hearings, excessive correspondence, and failure to comply with orders for medical evidence. The claim was struck out and the claimant ordered to pay £20,000 in costs to the first respondent.

The tribunal found the claimant's conduct throughout the proceedings was unreasonable, scandalous and vexatious, characterized by repeated non-attendance at four hearings without adequate medical evidence, excessive correspondence consuming disproportionate tribunal resources, failure to comply with orders including a direction to provide medical evidence, and an underlying pattern demonstrating unwillingness to accept tribunal authority. The tribunal concluded a fair trial was no longer possible given this ongoing conduct.

• •Whether the manner in which proceedings have been conducted by the claimant has been scandalous, unreasonable or vexatious
• •Non-compliance with tribunal orders
• •Application for costs against the claimant
• •Whether a fair trial is possible

1 EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS ClaimantRespondent Mr L ThompsonvCepac Limited (R1) Page Outsourcing UK Limited (R2) Heard at: Newcastle (by video link – Kinly Cloud) On: 24 April 2026 Before:Employment Judge James Representation For the Claimant: Did not appear and was not represented For the Respondents: Mr D Rubian, solicitor, for R1 Mr B Gray, counsel, for R2 JUDGMENT (1) The claimant’s claims are struck out on the grounds that his conduct of the proceedings has been unreasonable, scandalous and vexatious. (2) The first respondent’s application for costs against the claimant is granted. The claimant is ordered to pay the sum of £20,000 to the first respondent. REASONS The issues 1. The agreed issues which the tribunal had to determine at this hearing were set out in an order dated 8 September 2025. They are: (a) Whether the manner in which the proceedings have been conducted by the claimant has been scandalous, unreasonable or vexatious; and (b) for non-compliance with a Tribunal order that were to be determined by Employment Judge Jeram on 8th May 2025. 2 Further the hearing will determine (c) the Respondent’s application for costs that was notified to the tribunal on 8th May 2025, and will include the costs of today’s hearing (d) in determining whether the manner in which the proceedings have been conducted by the claimant has been scandalous, unreasonable or vexatious the Respondent wishes to rely on the Claimant’s non- attendance at today’s [i.e. 8 September 2025] hearing. The proceedings 2. The claim form was issued on 18 November 2024. It contains allegations concerning an application by the claimant for employment to the respondent in August 2024. The history of these proceedings since it was issued, is set out in the submissions section below. 3. At the outset of this hearing, Judge James decided whether or not to proceed in the claimant’s absenc…