Costs of gender critical claims
Dear Open University,
Please can you disclose the total costs incurred by the university in defending and settling the cases of
Jo Phoenix
Jon Pike
Pilgrim Tucker
Almut Gadow
Please note I am not seeking the individual figures but the total for all four to include as far as possible
- legal fees
- associated costs eg of attending tribunal
- settlements provided
Please provide total and a breakdown by the above heads or other internal budget codes if used.
Yours faithfully,
Maya Forstater
Dear Maya,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Your reference for this request is
FOI2025/049.
Your request is receiving our attention, and you will hear from us again
within 20 working days at the latest.
Yours sincerely
Daniel Webb
Daniel Webb, Senior Manager Information Rights (he/him/his)
Information Rights Team, University Secretary’s Office
t: 01908 653994
e: [1][email address]
a: The Open University, Level 5, 217 Charles Pinfold Building, Walton
Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Dear Maya,
We have begun to search for the information you have requested, and it has
unfortunately become clear that there are several possible interpretations
of the second element of your request (“associated costs eg of attending
tribunal”). In accordance with the Regulator’s guidance and the Cabinet
Office Freedom of Information Code of Practice we need to ask you for more
detail to enable us to identify exactly what you are seeking. We would
grateful if you could more clearly set out what comprises “Associated
Costs”.
I am sorry that this may delay your enquiry however we will attempt to
answer it as soon as possible after we have received your clarification.
But as prescribed by Section 1(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, a
request is not valid unless there is sufficient detail supplied to enable
identification and location of the information sought.
We will not therefore be able to process your request until we hear from
you. If we do not hear from you within 2 months from the date of this
notification, we will assume you are no longer interested in the
processing of your request and will close your request file.
Daniel Webb
Daniel Webb, Senior Manager Information Rights (he/him/his)
Information Rights Team, University Secretary’s Office
t: 01908 332871
e: [email address]
_____________________________________________
From: Freedom-of-Information
Sent: 24 February 2025 10:37
To: Maya Forstater <[FOI #1243889 email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Costs of gender critical
claims
Dear Maya,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Your reference for this request is
FOI2025/049.
Your request is receiving our attention, and you will hear from us again
within 20 working days at the latest.
Yours sincerely
Daniel Webb
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Daniel Webb, Senior Manager Information Rights (he/him/his)
Information Rights Team, University Secretary’s Office
t: 01908 653994
e: [1][email address]
a: The Open University, Level 5, 217 Charles Pinfold Building, Walton
Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
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