Mr Goodin was dismissed by reason of redundancy in March 2007. In terms of what the EAT referred to as "traditional unfair dismissal" the dismissal was not unfair. However the employer had failed to follow the proper procedures required by statute since 1st October 2004 and therefore an employment tribunal found the dismissal was automatically unfair.
The tribunal awarded the appropriate "4 weeks pay" basic award but reduced the compensatory award to zero on the basis that it would have made no difference if proper procedures had been followed. Mr Goodin appealed.