DD (Appellant) v TT (Respondent)

Permission to Appeal application lodged

Case summary
Permission to Appeal
Previous proceedings

Case summary

Case ID

UKSC/2026/0112

Parties

Appellant(s)

Respondent(s)

Issue

Did the conduct of the proceedings in the Industrial Tribunal and Court of Appeal breach the Appellant’s right to a fair hearing under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights and constitute a failure to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995? Did the Court of Appeal fail to correctly apply the relevant legal tests when assessing the Appellant’s claims of procedural unfairness, discrimination due to disability, and apparent bias?

Facts

The Appellant was employed by the Respondent as a hospital housekeeper from 30 June 2014 to 24 November 2022. During this period, the Appellant was also the primary carer for her son, who had a range of complex disabilities requiring a high level of care and attention. Following detailed discussions between the Appellant and the Respondent regarding her working arrangements, on 21 October 2021 the Appellant brought numerous claims against the Respondent, including allegations of associative discrimination relating to her son’s disability. The Appellant resigned from her position on 24 November 2022 and subsequently made additional claims alleging constructive unfair dismissal, a failure to enact reasonable adjustments, and direct discrimination on the basis of her own disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. On 23 September 2024, the Industrial Tribunal dismissed the Appellant’s claims, finding that she failed to establish that she received any less favourable treatment on the grounds of her son’s disability or that she suffered a disability under the statutory framework. The Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal on the grounds of unfair hearing, errors of law and apparent bias. On 18 December 2025 the Court of Appeal dismissed the Appellant’s appeal, concluding that there was no denial of her right to a fair hearing in the Industrial Tribunal proceedings. The Appellant now appeals to the Supreme Court.