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Gay News: The gay couple who sued Christian hotel owners for discrimination have withdrawn a claim for further compensation
Chymorvah guesthouse
Gay couple withdraw further claim
In a landmark judgment, civil partners Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy won compensation of £1,800 each, after being refused a double bedroom in the Chymorvah guesthouse near
In setting the level of damages Judge Andrew Rutherford said that he was taking into consideration the fact the Bulls were acting out of “genuine” religious conviction when they denied the gay couple a bedroom.
Following the ruling, lawyers acting for Hall and Preddy then went to the Court of Appeal, and submitted a claim for more compensation, arguing that the Bulls’ religious convictions should have been disregarded when setting the level of damages.
The Equal and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), who acted for the two men, has now withdrawn the appeal, calling it “an error of judgment”.
EHRC legal director John Wadham said that the cross appeal was submitted in an attempt to clarify how damages are calculated in such cases.
He admitted, however, that the action resulted in giving the appearance that Hall and Preddy were seeking to increase the amount of damages they had received. He stressed that this was not the case.
In a statement, Hall and Preddy confirmed that they had brought the case solely to clarify the law and not to make money.
“We have always believed that the original award was a fair one and are not seeking any further compensation.”
