There was a scrap at one of my parties last Friday night. Two IT lads. No action taken. Was one a couple of years ago when the bouncers let their mates in near the end and they fought with the guests.
Reading this, I think this may be what happened in that story the “equality and diversity consultant” told us.
I think the couple went out to a different place after the company function, the incident happened there, and the judge in his/her wisdom ruled that the company was liable as they wouldn’t have gone out to the second place had they not met at the company do.
Or this may be a different case, but it rings a vague bell.
A departure to a new, independent venue can be considered an extension of the workplace event if someone senior is involved in an incident and they exercise some element of authority. Its not a blanket rule and depends on the circumstances.