David Renton specialises in housing, discrimination and employment law. He acts for vulnerable tenants in disrepair possession hearings, and for employees, principally in cases of ordinary or trade union discrimination.
Discrimination
Overview
David represents claimants in all strands of employment discrimination claims in the Tribunal and EAT, including in lengthy, complex and high value cases, and in non-employment discrimination claims in the civil courts.
He represents vulnerable tenants in discrimination claims, principally disability discrimination claims, but also claims related to gender, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.
He also represents claimants in claims of discrimination in goods and services.
Notable Cases
McCafferty v Miah, Bow County Court, September 2016
Damages of £6,750 for discriminatory refusal to serve autistic child with service dog. This case was reported on by the Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Irish Post.
May v Secretary of State for Transport
Whether a disabled person is protected where the diagnosis of a condition is unclear but there is medical evidence of adverse impact on their ability to carry our normal activities.
Small v Barking and Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust
Operation of burden of proof where a court finds facts which could require a non-discriminatory explanation.
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Employment and Discrimination Law
Overview
David represents claimants in all strands of discrimination claim at the Tribunal and EAT, including in lengthy, complex and high value cases, and in non-employment discrimination claims in the civil courts.
He particularly specialises in cases involving discrimination against trade unionists or discrimination on grounds of immigration status.
David Renton has represented a council worker sacked for comments about Zionism who won back his job. An order for Stan Keable’s reinstatement was upheld after a tribunal judge in London ruled he was unfairly dismissed from his role. The case was reported in the Guardian.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
Smith v United Kingdom
The ECHR considered whether a blacklisted construction worker who had no protection in ordinary UK employment law (IRLR [2015] 467) but who had later succeeded in a (settled) breach of contract case in the High Court had been deprived of an effective domestic remedy. This case was reported on by the Guardian and Mirror.
Ssekisonge v Barts Health NHS Trust
David represented the Appellant in a case concerning the extent of the duties an employer owes to an employee in an SOSR dismissal (for immigration-related identity concerns) and whether this is a higher duty than in a misconduct dismissal.
Ayoola v St Christopher Fellowship
Whether costs order can be made without an assessment of whether the work done was reasonably payable.
Conway v Community Options Ltd
Whether the same test applies in striking out discrimination and ordinary unfair dismissal claims.
Ross v Eddie Stobart Ltd
Reported in Lawtel updates, whether Road Transport Workers are protected against dismissal for refusing to work in excess of 48-hour working week.
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Housing Law
Overview
David acts for tenants and mortgagors in possession hearings, mainly where possession is defended on Equality Act, human rights or public law grounds.
David is also regularly instructed in disrepair cases in the county court and magistrates' courts, carrying out work under both legal aid and no-win-no-fee agreements.
He also appears in homelessness appeals under section 204 of the Housing Act 1996, in occupation orders, and in related cases involving an overlap of housing and family law.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
Benchlevel Properties Ltd v B, Wandsworth County Court
Disrepair damages settled for £15,000 at the door of court.
P v Eaglepeak Ltd, Ornbach and Lok, Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court
Disrepair damages awarded of 50% of rent for no heating, intermittent hot water, decayed plaster in one room rising to 90% when boiler failed altogether. Total damages £30,800.
Ryan v Hackney, Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court
Compensation agreed at £9,500 (51% rent) for 2.5 years of water penetration in one bedroom and cracking in the other.
Mcloughlin v Tower Hamlets
Disrepair damages of £21,700, being 5 years 7 months at 40% of rent, where windows were rotten and water penetration had caused a gas pipe to leak.
Espute v Lambeth LBC
Disrepair settlement of £13,000 for heavy mould in three rooms and some mould in three others.
Addo v Sehmi
David represented a tenant who was awarded £8,100 damages for disrepair (water penetration), being 3/5 of rent for a 15 month period.
Sun Street Properties Ltd v Persons Unknown
David represented occupiers ("the Bank of Ideas") who failed in an article 10 defence to a possession claim, but were granted permission to appeal and non-enforcement, and eventually settled the case two months after their occupation had begun.
Woldeab v London Borough of Southwark
Successful challenge of finding that homeless person was not vulnerable where LA's own medical officer had advised further enquiries.