Imagine facing a legal bill of £100,000. That's what happened to Ms Doyle after losing her breach of contract, race discrimination and victimisation claims. The hearing had lasted seven days and involved seven other parties and at the end of it all Ms Doyle was ordered to pay the entire costs.
She appealed, saying that the conduct of the case didn't warrant the costs order. The tribunal was also wrong, she said, not to have had regard to her ability to pay.
The Employment Tribunal Appeal agreed with her second point. The tribunal was within its rights to order costs, but was wrong not to have looked into Ms Doyle's means before making the order. That was the case even though she was legally represented.
The case was sent back to the tribunal for it to look into Ms Doyle's means and to decide on an appropriate costs order.
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