Cases

Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others (No.3)

Facts

The Claimant was employed as a dentist by the First Defendant Trust between 1975 and 2001. In 2001 she was dismissed. In October 2002 she wrote to Bob Smith, the Chief Executive of the Trust, asking that the Trust investigate a large number of matters arising out of her dismissal, including the making of “malicious false allegations” by seven former colleagues. He responded by letter on 14 January 2003, stating that he could not accept that there was evidence indicating that allegations made against the Claimant were false. He sent a copy of this letter to the Chief Executive of the local Strategic Heath Authority. The Claimant sued for libel on the latter publication. She also sued her seven former colleagues under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 on the grounds that they had sought to have her dismissed by repeatedly lying about her conduct to the Trust. In addition the Claimant claimed damages for breach of contract by the Trust and personal injury.

Also