Mr Palma, who was employed by the Council as a residential child care worker, brought an unsuccessful claim for breach of contract in 2001. A further claim in 2003 was found to be identical in nature to the earlier one and was dismissed for that reason by the Bristol employment tribunal. County Court proceedings in 2005 were withdrawn, but Mr Palma remained undeterred and a Tribunal chairman sitting alone finally agreed in August 2006 that his case could proceed to a full merits hearing.