Rachel Walker, a secretary with Charles Russell, handed in her
notice to the firm in 2001, prompting assistant solicitor Adam
Dowdney to e-mail a partner, Clive Hopewell, asking, "Can we go for
a real fit busty blonde this time? She can't be any more trouble
and at least it would provide some entertainment!!"
According to the Guardian, Mr Hopewell replied: "I was about to
say the same!"
Ms Walker saw the e-mail and complained to the firm's head of
personnel. Letters of apology followed from both Dowdney and
Hopewell, but Ms Walker took her case to an employment tribunal. In
February last year the sex and race discrimination claim was
settled for an undisclosed sum, although reports at the time
indicated that Walker was awarded £10,000. The firm did not admit
liability.
The Law Society took up the matter and launched an investigation
through its Office for the Supervision of Solicitors (OSS).
According to a report on RollonFriday.com the OSS is now
expected to recommend that the Law Society reprimand Dowdney and
Hopewell for breaching the Society's anti-discrimination rules.
The senior partner of Charles Russell is also to be reprimanded,
says RollonFriday – because the firm did not take appropriate
investigatory or disciplinary action.
Tribunal actions on the basis of discriminatory or harassing
e-mails are becoming more common. Last month, in another case, a
woman received £10,000 in a settlement with her former employer
after nine colleagues circulated obscene e-mails about her, which
she discovered by chance. She argued that her employer failed to
take the matter seriously.
