Woods v WM Car Services (Peterborough) Ltd [1982] ICR 693 is a UK labour law case, concerning unfair dismissal, now governed by the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Ms Woods was Chief Secretary and Accounts Clerk and the business’ new owners thought she was overpaid.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal would have reversed this, but felt they were bound by Pedersen v Camden LBC.
[1] Lord Denning MR that the tribunal could not be overturned on its finding of fact unless there was a misdirection in law or the decision was perverse.
He recounted Horton v McMurty[2] where giving hints to the jury Pollock CB said ‘Gentlemen, I believe it is for you to decide whether this was a proper ground of dismissal - but if it be a matter of law… my opinion is that it is a good ground of dismissal.’ As an addendum, he added, ‘I hope that this may lead to the shortening of the hearings before the industrial tribunals and the length of their reasons.