JFRS Tribunal costs (FOI)

​Request

Please provide a breakdown of all internal & external costs (including for services & expenses of Queen's Counsel and others involved at any stage) incurred by or on behalf of the States Employment Board, either by themselves or by any other public authority in the following cases:

Employment Tribunal 133/18. Fire & Rescue Service Association VS States Employment Board

Employment Tribunal Appeal 133/18. Fire & Rescue Service Association VS States Employment Board

Royal Court [2019]JRC067. States Employment Board VS Fire & Rescue Service Association

Court of Appeal [2020]JCA020A. States Employment Board VS Fire & Rescue Service Association

Thank you in advance.

Response

A full breakdown between tribunal and appeals is not available for release. It is an accepted principle that a party’s costs incurred in respect of legal proceedings are subject to privilege and are therefore not subject to disclosure in accordance with this Freedom of Information request.

We are able to provide the following information.

Statement on Jersey Fire and Rescue Service Association ruling
The above press release confirms the total legal time and fees costs was £65,000. The total external costs incurred by SEB at the Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal, the Royal Court and the Court of Appeal amounted to £14,011.51. The remainder of the work was done by the Law Officers’ Department, at no additional cost to the public purse.

Article applied

Article 32      Legal professional privilege

Information is qualified exempt information if it is information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.