Key Facts
- •Godstimed Bassey Idenekpoma (Claimant) brought proceedings against Amazon UK Services Limited (Amazon) and PM Recruitment (PMP) for breach of contract, conspiracy, negligence, intentional infliction of distress, depression, forgery, and whistleblowing.
- •Claimant alleged a contract for permanent work with Amazon was violated and documents were forged.
- •Claimant worked at Amazon's Tilbury warehouse through PMP as a temporary agency worker.
- •Claimant made a false claim of injury on December 31, 2018, which was contradicted by CCTV footage.
- •Prior Employment Tribunal claims by the Claimant against PMP were struck out due to non-payment of deposit and failure to comply with orders.
- •Amazon applied to strike out the Claimant's claims or for summary judgment.
Legal Principles
Power to strike out a statement of case if it discloses no reasonable grounds for bringing a claim.
CPR Rule 3.4
Test for realistic prospect of success in summary judgment applications.
Easyair Limited v Opal Telecom Limited [2009] EWHC 339 (Ch)
Permission required to make an application for contempt relating to a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth.
CPR Part 81.3(5)(b)
Court retains inherent power to strike out an application for contempt.
Taylor v Robinson [2021] EWHC 664 (Ch)
Outcomes
Claimant's claims against Amazon were struck out under CPR Part 3.4.
Claims disclosed no reasonable grounds and were totally without merit; Claimant had no real prospect of success.
Claimant's contempt application against Amazon was dismissed.
No basis to conclude a contempt had been committed; Claimant's allegations were based on PMP's statements, not Amazon's; Amazon's Defence was consistent with its emails; Claimant failed to seek permission for the contempt application.
Court considered making a civil restraint order against the Claimant.
Claimant's claims were struck out as being without merit and he had previously pursued similar unsuccessful claims.