Disability Discrimination UK

Employment Law – Employment Lawyers - Disability Discrimination

At the second day of a pre-trial review hearing on 21st July 2010, Amelia Pearl Czikai (a former contestant of Britain has Talent show) said she was seeking £300,000 for injured feelings, compensation of £1m and loss of earnings of £1.25m on the grounds of disability discrimination against the show's creator and star, Simon Cowell, the production company Syco, and Freemantle Media. These claims are denied. Ms Czikai is believed to suffer from cervical spine neuritis, which causes severe neck pain and headaches. The pre-trial hearing is to determine whether there is any basis for her claim.

She claims that the producers knew about her condition, but discriminated against her and has accused the show and its judges of 'exploitation, humiliation, degradation and barbarism' claiming that they should not have allowed her audition to be broadcast after she told Simon of her difficulties. Her audition was also posted on YouTube.

She is claiming she suffered discrimination because of her disabilities because Fremantle Media and Syco did not do enough to support her.

The barrister argued that Miss Czikai "simply did not make it clear" that she had any health issues which required special support and did not indicate she needed any special support when she was interviewed by the researchers.

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© RT COOPERS, 2010. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.