News

« Headlines

PFD ordered to pay up £125k to United agent

17.04.08 Joel Rickett

PFD has been ordered to pay £125,000 to one of its former agents, after losing the first of 19 pending employment tribunal cases.

The verdict went in favour of Duncan Hayes (pictured), who represents comedy performers and writers including Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. He was one of the 12 agents dismissed by PFD parent group CSS Stellar last year for gross misconduct, and he subsequently helped form the new company, United Agents.

In a one-day hearing at the London WC2 Employment Tribunal on 19th February, Hayes argued that PFD acted unlawfully in withholding his due wages and commission after his dismissal. PFD and CSS Stellar were represented by lawyers and did not bring witnesses.

This week the judge, Miss D Henderson, ruled in Hayes' favour, finding that PFD had contravened the Employment Rights Act 1996: "The Tribunal finds that the Claimant [Hayes] is entitled to all outstanding salary and commission payments." These amount to £114,000, plus an extra 10% fine for not following statutory grievance procedures.

In a statement, United Agents hailed the win, and said that nine of the pending 19 cases were "almost identical". Tribunal judges take previous verdicts into account.

But Caroline Michel, c.e.o. of PFD, said: "We accept the ruling, but this does not in any way affect other pending legal actions in respect of former directors of PFD. We also have the right of appeal in this case and we are considering this course of action."

PFD had threatened to counter-sue a group of its former directors for conspiracy to defraud, alleging they took excessive bonus payments. But a source at United Agents said that no action had been commenced: "There have only been threats, and this [tribunal verdict] should lay all those claims to rest."

Meanwhile, Michel is strongly rumoured to be plotting her own buyout of PFD from CSS Stellar, possibly in partnership with press baron and broadcaster Andrew Neil. "I cannot comment on any speculation about the future ownership of PFD," she said. "CSS Stellar, our parent company, is publicly quoted and I am sensitive to this point."

Joel Rickett PFD Home United Agents

See Also