Meagher v The Chancellor, Masters And Scholars of the University of Cambridge & Ors [2025] EWHC 30 (KB) (13 January 2025)

Meagher v The Chancellor, Masters And Scholars of the University of Cambridge & Ors [2025] EWHC 30 (KB) (13 January 2025)

The judge was entitled to strike out the claims against the individual defendants as an abuse of process under the Jameel principle, given that their inclusion added no substantive benefit to the claimant and only increased cost and complexity, with the University accepting liability for any proven discrimination. The judge was also correct to strike out the pleaded particulars in contract and tort that sought to import the statutory duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act into common law obligations, as this is impermissible under established authority.

Citation
[2025] EWHC 30 (KB)
Parties
Appellant/claimant: Jacob Meagher; Respondent/defendant: The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge; Respondent/defendant: Findlay Stark; Respondent/defendant: Mark Elliot; Respondent/defendant: Matthias Landgraf; Respondent/defendant: Deborah Longbottom; Respondent/defendant: Sarah D'Ambrumenil
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
13 January 2025
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Judgment on Appeal From Case Management Decision (strike Out)
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Strike Out Applications, Abuse of Process, Disability Discrimination, Reasonable Adjustments, Vicarious Liability, Remedies Under Equality Act, Case Management Discretion
Civil Procedure Equality and Discrimination Law Contract Law Tort Law Strike Out Applications Abuse of Process Disability Discrimination Reasonable Adjustments +3 more

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Parties

Jacob Meagher

Appellant/claimant

The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge

Respondent/defendant

Findlay Stark

Respondent/defendant

Mark Elliot

Respondent/defendant

Matthias Landgraf

Respondent/defendant

Deborah Longbottom

Respondent/defendant

Sarah D'Ambrumenil

Respondent/defendant

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Judgment on Appeal From Case Management Decision (strike Out)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the judge erred in striking out claims against individual defendants under section 110 Equality Act 2010 as an abuse of process (Jameel jurisdiction)
  2. 2 Whether the judge erred in striking out particulars of breach of contract and duty of care for impermissibly importing Equality Act duties into contract/tort

Ratio Decidendi

The judge was entitled to strike out the claims against the individual defendants as an abuse of process under the Jameel principle, given that their inclusion added no substantive benefit to the claimant and only increased cost and complexity, with the University accepting liability for any proven discrimination. The judge was also correct to strike out the pleaded particulars in contract and tort that sought to import the statutory duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act into common law obligations, as this is impermissible under established authority.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Claims against individual defendants (Second to Sixth Respondents) remain struck out as abuse of process
  • Particulars of breach of contract and duty of care (paragraphs 69(3) and 70(3) of APoC) remain struck out