A former head of employment at City firm Rosenblatt has told a tribunal that he 'raised his head above the parapet' over potential evidence suppression fears.
The employment tribunal hearing, which begun last week, centres on claims of racial discrimination, unfair dismissal and breach of contract. The claims are brought by Noel Deans, who was head of employment at Rosenblatt until February 2020.
The claims are against RBL Law Limited, former chief executive Nicola Foulston, founder and senior partner Ian Rosenblatt, and director and compliance officer Anthony Field. The four respondents deny all claims against them.
Deans, who is representing himself, told the court during cross-examination that comments made by Field on a witness statement ‘would distort the facts’.
He said: ‘I thought that, the refence to distortion, would twist the facts out of shape because that was not how [the witness] remembered. I think [Field] certainly wanted the facts to be clear from our perspective. He certainly wanted the facts to be stronger in certain respects. What he wanted to achieve regardless of his intention would have amounted to a distortion.'
Richard Leiper KC, for RBL Law Limited, Rosenblatt and Field, said Dean’s statement about suppressing evidence was ‘an unjustifiable accusation’.
Deans added: ‘I am not saying that he deliberately sought to distort facts. What he was suggesting to me I felt would distort the facts and I felt [the writer of the statement] would feel the facts are being distorted.' As a result, he said he was ‘very concerned’ about his practising certificate.
Deans, after being taken through the document and questions raised by Field, said: ‘I am not saying that they suppressed evidence. I simply say, based on the information in front of me [at that time], I thought it was a distinctly likelihood. Why [otherwise] would I raise my head above the parapet?' he asked. 'Why would I put my shares, a six-figure sum, at risk?’
The hearing continues.
