Legal News

Former chief executive has launched a legal action for unfair dismissal after the firm which provides lifts for the disabled in health care centres allegedly went bankrupt.

The Stourbridge chief executive John Coyne, of Belfry Drive, Wollaston, also complained at the Birmingham Employment Tribunal about delays involving a £19,000 bonus he said he was entitled to.

His compensation claim was against Dudley Infracare (Lift) Ltd which opposed the claim and said Mr Coyne had been sacked under employment redundancy.

Mr Coyne, who had been chief executive of the Brierley Hill based firm, complained about his delayed bonus in his tribunal statement.

He said he was concerned that it had been driven by the private sector shareholders representatives on the company board in an attempt to bully and intimidate him or to try and trigger his resignation.

He said that he was left feeling of victimisation and having been discriminated against. He said he was not treated fairly.

Mr Coyne eventually lodged an official grievance with his employers.

Tim Sunter, company chairman, said that for every £1 of income £3 to £4 was being spent by the firm.

He said the company ran out of money and the directors had been concerned about the financial situation.

He denied that Mr Coyne had been excluded from a discussion about The Way Forward.
He admitted, however, that Mr Coyne’s job had been at risk of employment redundancy but said other positions had been considered.

Mr Coyne, who was employed from January 2006 to June 2011, said he had applied for 100 jobs since losing his post and had 35 interviews.

The firm was said to have been a highly successful delivery agent, recommended by the NHS and Dudley Council.

The tribunal hearing has been listed for six days and a decision by tribunal judge Lyn Findlay is expected at a later date.