HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL OF ONTARIO
B E T W E E N:
Lisa Gratsos Applicant
-and-
The Regional Municipality of Durham (Social Services Department) Respondent
DECISION
Adjudicator: Laurie Letheren
Indexed as: Gratsos v. Durham (Regional Municipality)
APPEARANCES
Lisa Gratsos, Applicant
No one appearing
The Regional Municipality of Durham Social Services, Respondent
Soojin Lee, Counsel
INTRODUCTION
1This Application alleges discrimination with respect to services because of family status, marital status, and receipt of public assistance contrary to the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, as amended.
2On May 25, 2015, the Tribunal issued a Case Assessment Direction advising the parties that a summary hearing would be scheduled in this matter.
3On June 24, 2015, a Notice of Summary Hearing (“the Notice”) was mailed to the parties by the Tribunal advising that the summary hearing would take place by teleconference call on September 23, 2015 at 1:30 PM. The Notice was mailed to the applicant at the address she indicated on the Application. The applicant did not advise the Tribunal of a change in her address and the letter mailed to the applicant was not returned to the Tribunal as undeliverable.
4The Notice advised the applicant that if she did not attend the summary hearing, his Application could be dismissed as abandoned.
5The respondent attended the summary hearing on September 23, 2015 but the applicant did not attend, despite the Tribunal waiting half an hour after the scheduled start time for the hearing. The applicant did not communicate with the Tribunal to explain her failure to attend.
6I am satisfied the applicant received timely and proper notice of the summary hearing. In the absence of the applicant or any explanation for her failure to attend, I dismiss his Application as abandoned.
ORDER
7The Application is dismissed.
Dated at Toronto, this 24th day of September, 2015.
“Signed by”
Laurie Letheren
Vice-chair