Surprise halts tribunal

Feb 6 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

A SURPRISE new witness has been called by a solicitor in her battle against the employers she blames for the premature birth of her daughter.

The four-day tribunal hearing brought by Naomi Mainwaring, 26, against employment law specialists Short Richardson and Forth LLP (SRF), resumed and was due to end yesterday after a five-week break.

But it has now been adjourned until next month so that evidence can be heard from one of the firm’s former partners, John Harrison, who contacted Mrs Mainwaring’s solicitor after reading of the case in The Journal.

Last month, newly-qualified solicitor Mrs Mainwaring, of Blanchland, Northumberland, told the panel she held the firm responsible for the early birth of her first daughter Niamh last June.

She claims her immediate superior Lesley Crinson, a partner who hired Mrs Mainwaring as her assistant, reacted negatively to news of the unexpected pregnancy six months after she was taken on, and began a campaign of harassment

The new mum, who is married to Jonny, 34, and is currently on maternity leave, is claiming sexual discrimination.

Yesterday, at the Newcastle hearing, Mrs Mainwaring heard partner Max Winthrop deny her claims.

Mr Winthrop told the tribunal he didn’t believe Mrs Mainwaring’s regular vomiting at the firm’s Mosley Street office had been brought on by stress. He said: “I would need some persuading that that wasn’t part and parcel of the pregnancy.”

He added: “If I felt a partner or anyone had behaved in a discriminatory manner then I would take action accordingly. The fact that someone is a partner would certainly not stop me taking action at all, but I have got to be convinced.”

After considering whether to allow the new evidence from Mr Harrison, chairman of the panel Nick Garside said: “We have given very careful consideration to the new evidence that has been brought and this statement from Mr Harrison really does go to the heart of this case.”

The hearing will resume on March 17.