It has been reported that an email regarding an expenses claim has cost Salford University in the region of £110,000 after libel action was taken in court. The action was taken by Dr Tom McMaster in relation to an expenses claim of £180 for use of his boat when travelling to a conference in Galway. Dr McMaster agreed with his superiors that he could sail his boat rather than fly but when he filed his expenses claim he did not receive the reply he expected!
The reply from the accounts department suggested that the expenses claim was ‘an attempted fraud' and it was rejected out of hand. However, a copy of the email was also sent to others in Dr McMaster's department which constituted libel. As the parties were unable to agree a settlement the matter was taken to court where Salford University settled prior to the case proceeding for £10,000 with £100,000 in costs - after earlier failing to have the case dismissed.
If the email reply had only been sent to Dr McMaster there would have been no case to answer but the fact that copies were sent to his colleagues constituted libel. This case is being used as a warning to all companies who use email – stick to the rules! |
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