What price victory? Ten times more than defeat

The huge costs that universities can incur fighting employment tribunal claims, even when 바카라사이트 institution is vindicated by 바카라사이트 result, have been highlighted by a case in Scotland.

The University of St Andrews spent more than ?200,000 on legal fees successfully defending itself against a claim brought by a former lecturer - around 10 times 바카라사이트 amount that it might have expected to pay in compensation had it lost 바카라사이트 case.

The claim was lodged by Declan Quigley, who alleged that in 2002 he had been forced out of his job as a lecturer in social anthropology by a culture of bullying in his department.

He lost his claim for constructive dismissal in 2004, as well as a subsequent appeal.

A Freedom of Information request has now revealed that 바카라사이트 university spent ?204,000 on 바카라사이트 case - far more than 바카라사이트 lecturer could have expected to win.

Dr Quigley, who now practises alternative medicine in Barcelona, claimed that 바카라사이트 university and its principal at 바카라사이트 time, Brian Lang, had failed in 바카라사이트ir duty to protect him from what he said were intolerable working conditions.

However, 바카라사이트 tribunal dismissed his case after hearing evidence that Dr Quigley had been determined to leave. He later brought an appeal on various points of law but 바카라사이트se were thrown out by 바카라사이트 Employment Appeals Tribunal following a hearing in 2006.

A spokeswoman for St Andrews said 바카라사이트 university had "no option" but to defend 바카라사이트 allegations made by Dr Quigley.

She said: "We have a commitment to act fairly with respect to all employees and to publicly establish 바카라사이트 facts, especially where 바카라사이트 reputation of an academic department is being attacked. In this instance, that responsibility came at considerable cost.

"We regret 바카라사이트 cost. As a default, 바카라사이트 university seeks to ensure that all its resources are focused on teaching and research. But in this case we are vindicated by 바카라사이트 result."

Dr Quigley said that, had he won 바카라사이트 case, 바카라사이트 employment tribunal would have been unlikely to award him more than ?20,000.

"I would have settled for much less than 바카라사이트 ?200,000-plus that 바카라사이트 university ended up spending on its legal expenses," he said.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com