A Walsall Council worker who was sacked by fax, after 17 years’ service, has won an undisclosed sum of money after taking the authority to an employment tribunal.

Elizabeth McDonald’s settlement could be in the region of £500,000, according to a schedule of costs read out in the tribunal, held in Birmingham. The 46-year-old from Streetly, who worked in corporate finance and was employed by Walsall Council, settled her case out of court yesterday.

Miss McDonald, who battled health problems after suffering thyroid complications, said after the case that she was “happy” with the outcome. She was sacked by a fax which she picked up at home while on sick leave in April 2005. Her case for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination was originally scheduled to run for eight days.

Earlier in the day, chairman Saleem Ahmed attacked legal representatives for not having their paperwork in order – a move which he described as “lamentable”.

Read the full story in the Express & StarA Walsall Council worker who was sacked by fax, after 17 years’ service, has won an undisclosed sum of money after taking the authority to an employment tribunal.

Elizabeth McDonald’s settlement could be in the region of £500,000, according to a schedule of costs read out in the tribunal, held in Birmingham. The 46-year-old from Streetly, who worked in corporate finance and was employed by Walsall Council, settled her case out of court yesterday.

Miss McDonald, who battled health problems after suffering thyroid complications, said after the case that she was “happy” with the outcome. She was sacked by a fax which she picked up at home while on sick leave in April 2005. Her case for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination was originally scheduled to run for eight days.

Earlier in the day, chairman Saleem Ahmed attacked legal representatives for not having their paperwork in order – a move which he described as “lamentable”.

Following the tribunal, both sides issued a joint statement. It said: “In order to save the costs of litigation over a period of eight days or potentially more, the parties have agreed to settle the claim before the employment tribunal. The council agreed that Miss McDonald became ill and that, subsequently, the council did not recognise the extent of her illness for the purposes of the disability discrimination legislation.

“Lessons will be learned from this and applied in future.” The claims have not yet been dismissed but it is expected they will be dropped by April, or else the tribunal has the power to enforce this.