Lucy Ward-saken ser ut til å ha kommet til en konklusjon. Den blir ikke billig for klubben.
When Lucy Ward was removed unceremoniously from her job as Education and Welfare officer at Leeds United, accusation and counter-accusation were thick in the air. Whatever the state of those, Leeds United’s reasons for dismissing Ward were found wanting as the original tribunal found in her favour that she was unfairly dismissed and sexually discriminated against.
Fast-forward to June 10th. There was another hearing to settle amount that the aggrieved Ward was to receive as her rightful compensation package.
What seemed like a potentially straight-forward, matter-of-fact hearing was anything but. This is often the case when there is anything involving Massimo Cellino and Leeds United.
Cellino himself was due to give evidence in person, even going as far turning up at the tribunal itself (below). At the last minute, the fiery Italian decided to not give evidence in person. He cited ‘media pressure’ and submitted his evidence in written form.
At the hearing, both sides clashed. Accusatory broadside from one was met with retaliatory cannonade from the other. The action at the hearing see-sawed back-and-forth. Lucy Ward opened up proceedings on the day giving her side of the story. She began talking about the manner of the dismissal and the effect that it had on her. Ward said that the process by which she was removed was, “Horrendous. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy,†going on to say that it removed her, “from the job I’d loved for 17 years. It’s as hurtful as it could be.â€
Leeds United’s barrister, Lucy Bairstow, said that Ward had received a letter of apology from the club. The Leeds United barrister said the apology was genuine and that Ward had been offered her job back. The response to this was curt, with Lucy Ward questioning the sincerity of the apology, calling it “damage limitation†and then saying that Cellino was fully aware of “what he was putting me through.â€
Today though, Leeds United found out just how much it was going to cost them to recompense Lucy Ward for the damages that she won. It doesn’t make pretty reading.
In the case Lucy Ward v #lufc I understand Ms Ward has been awarded c. £127k for her sex discrimination & c. £5.5k for unfair dismissal.
The club also has to pay the tax of c. £55k relating to the award & the whole of Ms Ward's costs. #Lufc will have to pay its own costs too.
So, in cash terms, the Whites are definitely around £188,000 out of pocket – that isn’t including the legal costs of both sides.
I wouldn’t like to be within earshot of Massimo Cellino when he signs the cheque to pay for this.
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