Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 04
1 not playing games, I think it is essential that those who
2 represent McDonald's should know as much as possible.
3 There is a reference to one particular condition which you
4 have not referred to and I understand that. Can you not
5 read the whole of -- there is no harm in mentioning the
6 name of the doctor, is there?
7
8 MS. STEEL: Actually, this might sound stupid, but I would just
9 rather not.
10
11 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Let us see where we get to. Why do you not
12 read the whole of that doctor's letter except looking at
13 line 5, the second, third and fourth words. If I may say
14 so, I will not say you are being unduly sensitive about it
15 because I understand you are sensitive about it, but there
16 is absolutely nothing there which anyone would not be
17 perfectly understanding about and which might not afflict
18 any one of us under the pressure of work. Do you
19 understand? So I understand your sensitivity about it,
20 I understand anyone's sensitivity about any details in
21 relation to their health, whether they share the view of
22 their medical attendants or not.
23
24 Quite frankly, it would make everything so much easier, and
25 I think it would help you, if you read out the whole of
26 your letter and the whole of the doctor's letter. You do
27 not have to reveal the name of the doctor. If I merely
28 said that the letter appears to be on an appropriate
29 letterheading and signed by someone who describes himself
30 as a doctor, those who represent McDonald's will probably
31 accept that for the time being. If it became crucial in
32 any greatly significant respect, then we might have to
33 consider the matter further.
34
35 MS. STEEL: I will read out the letter with the exception of
36 that part. "Dear sir" -----
37
38 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is dated 1st March. "Re. Helen Steel".
39
40 MS. STEEL: Sorry. "I am writing in support of Ms. Steel's
41 request for more frequent breaks in her current court case
42 on medical grounds. Ms. Steel has been to see me on
43 several occasions suffering from stress-related illness
44 which has been made worse by the long hours she is spending
45 in court followed by her work-load in the evenings. I feel
46 that Ms. Steel's mental and physical health would benefit
47 from more breaks in the case".
48
49 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
50
51 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, I do not know whether there is anything
52 in that letter or Ms. Steel's own letter which would make
53 life easier for me. Your Lordship will see my difficulty
54 at once.
55
56 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes.
57
58 MR. RAMPTON: I do not really know that there is anything I can
59 usefully say but, plainly, my interests as counsel
60 representing the Plaintiffs in this case are not identical
