Man who claimed dirty tricks by BA has case thrown out

A former policeman who alleged that British Airways had conducted a dirty tricks campaign against him had his claim for damages thrown out of court yesterday.

John Gorman, 39, failed to turn up for the case because of illness but he was later described by counsel for the airline as a fraudulent "professional claimant" who had made 81 claims against a medical insurance company.

Central London County Court was told that Mr Gorman was in hospital in Majorca suffering from syncopal, a fainting condition, and was unable to attend the hearing.

Robert Webb QC, representing BA, said there was no medical evidence to support his failure to turn up, even though a letter purporting to be from doctors treating Mr Gorman had been received.

Mr Gorman's fight with BA began in 1993 when he claimed to have swallowed a piece of glass from a drink during a flight to New York. The airline denied liability and it later emerged that Mr Gorman had made a similar claim against Delta Airlines in 1991, when he accepted a $5,000 (pounds 3,000) settlement.

Successfully applying to have yesterday's case dismissed Mr Webb said the airline had intended to call 13 witnesses to contest Mr Gorman's claims.

Judge Nicholas Medawar QC agreed. "There does not seem to be any semblance of a medical certificate," he said. He announced that he had no choice but to dismiss the case.

Mr Gorman was not legally represented as he had been conducting his own case. He is thought to have applied to the court for an adjournment by telephone, but only a written application would have been considered.

Last year Mr Gorman, a policeman of 20 years and a BA shareholder, told the airline's annual meeting that he had been the victim of a series of physical attacks, threats and acts of vandalism.

He said he had been attacked at his home in Enfield, north London, and his car, a 7-Series BMW, had been repeatedly damaged. On one occasion he said a bottle of champagne was left outside his flat addressed to him and his partner, Peter Sherman.

It purportedly read: "If these matters ever reach court both of you are dead guys. Have the champagne on us, it's your last. Remember, no win nobody.''