Recent cases
Whistle blower wins case against Prison Charity
Publication date:
17 January 2011
The former Deputy Director of a charity offering counselling services at UK prisons has won her whistle-blowing case after raising concerns about financial impropriety relating to £525,000 from the Cabinet Office. The anomalies are currently being investigated by the Charity Commission.
In a Judgment delivered at the Watford Employment Tribunal on 11 January 2011, it was decided that Robina Husain-Naviatti, former Deputy Director of Forensic Therapies, was unfairly dismissed and unlawfully marginalised and suspended for months after raising numerous disclosures about ‘missing funds’ after the charity subsequently recorded its grant income as amounting to £80,000 over a three year period.
Ms Husain-Naviatti was awarded £47,580 in compensation for loss of earnings and injury to feelings.
After the judgment was delivered Ms Husain Naviatti said:
“I was victimised, harassed and ultimately lost my livelihood for daring to raise serious concerns about the potential misuse of public funds with no benefit to myself. I was only ever concerned about the truth. I suffered immense stress and trauma through the process culminating in the loss of my job. I feel that this judgment goes some way to achieving justice and I hope that the Charity Commission takes heed of the Tribunal’s comments about investigating this further.”
Her solicitor Shah Qureshi of Bindmans LLP said:
“This judgment sends a signal to charities that they are in a position of trust and must act with propriety at all times. Otherwise public confidence can be damaged. Whistleblowers who dare to raise their heads above the parapet are a vital check against complacency and cover-ups and the law recognises they need protection. My client suffered horrendously for raising her concerns in good faith. Questions remain regarding the use of these funds and it is incumbent upon the Charity Commission as recommended by the Employment Tribunal that a full and thorough investigation is carried out.”
Please click on the links below to view the press coverage:
- Model fired for exposing £300k ‘charity thefts’, The Daily Express, 18 january 2011
- Whistle-blower Charity worker’s tribunal win, The Daily Telegraph, 18 January 2011
- Counsellor’s tribunal, The Times, 18 january 2011
- Whistleblowing model sacked for revealing £300,000 'theft' from jail charity, The Daily Mail, 17 January 2011
- Model-sacked-for-revealing-pound-300000-theft-from-jail-charity, The Evening Standard, 17 January 2011
Settlement reached for Bindmans client Tim Nicholson in climate change discrimination case
Publication date: 19 April 2010
Senior Executive and Environmentalist Tim Nicholson claimed he was unfairly dismissed and discriminated against by his employer Grainger Plc because of his ‘philosophical belief about climate change and the environment'.
In November, appeal judge Michael Burton found in Mr Nicholson's favour and dismissed Grainger's argument that his views were not the same as religious or philosophical beliefs. This landmark case established that environmentalism or strong views on climate change are protected by UK discrimination legislation.
Shah Qureshi, Head of Employment Law at leading London law firm Bindmans LLP, is Mr Nicholson’s lawyer.
Please click on the links below to view the related articles and the press coverage:
Bindmans represents Tim Nicholson in climate change
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Bindmans represents Tim Nicholson in landmark climate change discrimination case
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Shah Qureshi is interviewed by Australia's ABC
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Employment Law article published in ELA Briefing
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The Telegraph and The Independent quote Shah Qureshi
Publication date: 21 April 2010 Bindmans ' Head of Employment Shah Qureshi is quoted by The Telegraph and The Independent in articles regarding Tim Nicholson?s landmark case.
Environmentalists are protected by UK Discrimination
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Appeal Tribunal to decide whether environmentalist...
Tim Nicholson was Head of Sustainability at Grainger Plc, the UK's ... Chief Executive. In his statement to the Tribunal Mr Nicholson cited at the ET a number of examples of where ...