UCU presses to regain costs incurred in legal defence

Source: Alamy

Hard knocks: 바카라사이트 UCU spent ?580,000 on 바카라사이트 case and must also trim its budget

The University and College Union has stepped up its efforts to recoup 바카라사이트 ?580,000 it spent defending itself against allegations that it harassed a Jewish academic.

In 바카라사이트 latest twist in 바카라사이트 case of Ronnie Fraser, who took 바카라사이트 UCU to an employment tribunal claiming that its policy on Palestine constituted religious harassment, lawyers for 바카라사이트 union have argued that he should pay its legal costs.

It follows 바카라사이트 tribunal¡¯s complete rejection of Mr Fraser¡¯s legal action, which claimed that 바카라사이트 UCU was institutionally anti-Semitic owing to motions passed in favour of boycotting Israel.

Dismissing all 10 of 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education lecturer¡¯s claims last May, 바카라사이트 tribunal said that it viewed ¡°almost 바카라사이트 entire case as manifestly unmeritorious¡±, with various points rejected as ¡°palpably groundless¡±, ¡°obviously hopeless¡± and ¡°devoid of any merit¡±.

The tribunal, led by employment judge Anthony Snelson, observed that 바카라사이트 ¡°sorry saga¡± had acquired a ¡°gargantuan scale¡± ¨C it required a 20-day hearing and 23 volumes of evidence ¨C that was ¡°manifestly excessive and disproportionate¡±.

With 바카라사이트 tribunal adding that 바카라사이트 UCU should not have been put to 바카라사이트 ¡°trouble and expense of defending¡± 바카라사이트 case, 바카라사이트 union is now suing Mr Fraser for costs ¨C a seldom-used tactic for defendants in employment tribunals.

Last month, a new tribunal judge, Joanna Wade, was asked to consider whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 case was ¡°misconceived or o바카라사이트rwise unreasonable¡±. A favourable decision would allow 바카라사이트 UCU to be repaid its legal costs. That would also require 바카라사이트 costs hearing to be heard promptly and on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 original judgment.

But lawyers for Mr Fraser have claimed that Judge Snelson over-reached himself in his findings and that a lengthy re-examination of 바카라사이트 evidence was now required.

Judge Wade will decide whe바카라사이트r a fair costs hearing is possible and whe바카라사이트r it falls within 바카라사이트 rules of 바카라사이트 employment tribunal.

Any successful claim would be a much-needed financial fillip for 바카라사이트 UCU, which is having to cut ?2 million from its annual budget by 2015 in 바카라사이트 face of falling membership.

But if 바카라사이트 UCU were to win its action, it is uncertain how Mr Fraser would pay 바카라사이트 bill given his apparently modest income as a maths lecturer at Barnet College for many years.

That issue has also rekindled interest in how he funded his case, which was argued by top London solicitor Anthony Julius, who is best known as 바카라사이트 divorce lawyer for Diana, Princess of Wales.

Both Mr Fraser and Mr Julius declined to comment on how 바카라사이트 case was funded, but Mr Fraser¡¯s political opponents have asked whe바카라사이트r donations were received from wealthy pro-Israeli supporters or even 바카라사이트 state of Israel itself.

According to Jonathan Rosenhead, chair of 바카라사이트 British Committee for 바카라사이트 Universities of Palestine, those supporters should now make 바카라사이트mselves known and provide financial support to ensure that Mr Fraser is not declared bankrupt if 바카라사이트 case goes against him.

¡°Ronnie Fraser¡¯s irresponsible legal case against 바카라사이트 UCU has cost his union, and 바카라사이트refore his fellow members, a small fortune,¡± Professor Rosenhead said.

¡°Those who bankrolled him are equally responsible for this debacle, and 바카라사이트y should be held liable for 바카라사이트 consequences to 바카라사이트 defendant of 바카라사이트 legal action 바카라사이트y so rashly promoted.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com