Treasury family consider legal action after coroner links department to employee's death
The parents of Chloe Moffat, a 26-year-old personal assistant who died by suicide in May 2025, are considering a wrongful death lawsuit against HM Treasury, according to reporting by the Guardian and BBC News. A coroner ruled this month that the Treasury's disciplinary process "materially contributed" to her death. Moffat had been informed of allegations that she had shared sensitive confidential information about colleagues, which she denied before her death.
The coroner's finding is significant because a formal determination that an employer's conduct materially contributed to an employee's death carries potential legal and institutional consequences. Wrongful death civil litigation against a government department would be unusual and, if pursued, would place the Treasury's internal HR and disciplinary procedures under judicial scrutiny. David and Anne Moffat have stated publicly that they fear lessons will not be learned.
The Treasury has not, on the basis of available reporting, publicly responded to the coroner's findings or the family's stated intention to pursue legal action. No UK ministers or opposition spokespeople are quoted in either source. What happens next depends in part on whether the family proceeds with a civil claim and whether Parliament or the Treasury's permanent secretary is called upon to respond. No such reaction has been recorded in the material provided.
Key facts
- A coroner ruled that the Treasury's disciplinary process materially contributed to Chloe Moffat's death. source
- Moffat, 26, died by suicide in May 2025 after being told of allegations she had shared sensitive confidential information about colleagues, which she denied. source
- Her parents, David and Anne Moffat, are considering suing the Treasury for wrongful death. source
- The family has expressed concern that institutional lessons will not be drawn from her death. source
Sources
Each outlet's own headline, quoted, beside the link to it — and our one-line reading of the angle it takes.
- BBC News CENTRE26 Aug, 06:14
Dad of woman who took her own life says Treasury failed in its duty of care
BBC News leads on the father's direct charge that the Treasury failed in its duty of care, framing the story around the denial of the allegations made against his daughter.
- The Guardian C-LEFT22 Aug, 07:00
The Guardian centres the parents' personal testimony and their determination to force institutional accountability from one of Whitehall's most senior departments.
Original synthesis from the sources above. The Order Paper writes its own headlines and summaries and does not republish source text. Headlines in the source list are each publisher’s own, quoted as a citation beside a link to their reporting. Contested claims are attributed to their reporters.