Sports Direct abandon claim for £200K damages from Rangers FC

[Bluedell 5,342]

Also judge asking RFC QC for the clubs cost amounts looks good.

 

The problem with that is that you usually only get 50% of the actual costs. The court case will still be a drain on our resources.

[pete 2,499]

The problem with that is that you usually only get 50% of the actual costs. The court case will still be a drain on our resources.

 

That is what Ashely is wanting. Getting back at King will also play a part.

[buster. 4,808]

That is what Ashely is wanting. Getting back at King will also play a part.

 

Yes, Ashely would still be impacting our cashflow but the 'intangible price' he is paying regards this action leaves him with an important net 'loss' thus far.

 

Not forgetting that the trial is still to come.

[pete 2,499]

Yes, Ashely would still be impacting our cashflow but the 'intangible price' he is paying regards this action leaves him with an important net 'loss' thus far.

 

Not forgetting that the trial is still to come.

 

That is correct but I personally think Ashely is a putrid spoiled brat that is used to getting things his own way and had a shattering ego experience when King outmanoeuvred him at Rangers. His ego probably made him take this on. I can't really see his advisor's advising this and his lawyer seems to know little of what is going on. I think it is all about trying to bully King and therefore Rangers

[buster. 4,808]

That is correct but I personally think Ashely is a putrid spoiled brat that is used to getting things his own way and had a shattering ego experience when King outmanoeuvred him at Rangers. His ego probably made him take this on. I can't really see his advisor's advising this and his lawyer seems to know little of what is going on. I think it is all about trying to bully King and therefore Rangers

 

Mr MASH may be concerned about potential fall-out coming from the ongoing criminal proceedings.

 

With this in mind he may or may not have been looking to impact the clubs cashflow and go after King the individual so as to affect any efforts at bringing him to account, both legally and financially.

 

He may or may not now be considering a different approach which has been mooted from various places.

ie. 'retreat'

[govan_derriere 3]

For what they are worth, some of James Doleman's tweets are pure comedy gold.

 

 

 

At the Royal Courts of Justice for interim hearing in case of Sports Direct International Plc v Rangers International Football Club

 

Hearing today is procedural ahead of main trial. Mr McCormack QC is again representing Rangers, Mr Guest QC for Sports Direct.

 

SD counsel opens by telling court that they are seeking damages over contempt of court.

 

Counsel for RFC says Mike Ashley did not sign witness statement on time asks for dismissal.

 

"They have to live with the situation they have created for themselves" RFC counsel tells court.

 

Judge says he plans to "strip out" SD damages claim.

 

Counsel for SD says that despite the delay in receiving witness statements the judge must look at the "overall justice of the case."

 

Judge says that if SD had really lost millions "Mr Ashley would be kicking the door in."

 

Counsel for SD says the losses caused to his clients business by actions are large but "unquantifiable"

 

Judge notes that SD share price has "been falling since xmas"

 

 

Judge asks where the original estimate of £200k damages came from?

 

Counsel says he is not sure.

 

Judge says that without disclose of financial figures the SD claim is "pure speculation"

 

 

Counsel for RFC says SD actions are "unfair" to his clients.

 

Judge notes SD only gave RFC witness statements at 5pm last night.

 

Judge says SD explanation for delay in statements is "unconvincing" as case began in June 2015.

 

Judge notes that the list if damages given by SD was "unverified"

 

Judge says however that despite delay it would be "disproportionate" to rule out SD evidence.

 

Judge says SD actions an "abuse of process of the court,"

 

Judge says he has come to the conclusion that SD want to "parade in the course of the trial, possibly for outside consumption"

 

Judge rules that sections of Ashley's witness statement relating to damages be "struck out"

 

Now moving onto costs.

 

 

Counsel for RFC says "while we would dearly like the money" costs are impossible to quantify yet.

 

Judge asks counsel for RFC is he is asking for Ashley to be sent to prison?

 

"You can have your fun with Mr Ashley at the trial" he says.

 

 

Counsel for SD now responding on issue of "unverified" statement of losses.

 

Counsel for SD says there was no verification of loss statement as it had been decided not to pursue the matter further,

 

Judge ruling on costs of abandoned SD damages claim.

 

Judge says "there must have been a deliberate decision" to serve the damages figures without a statement of truth attached.

 

Judge says SD conduct has been "abusive" says figures were "plucked out of the air"

 

 

Judge says SD have "wasted the courts time"

 

Judge asks counsel for RFC to prepare a schedule of costs for his consideration.

 

Judge says his clerk has been receiving emails about blogs accusing him of "being a mason"

 

Judge says blogs have said his wife is a Rangers supporter "this is untrue"

 

Judge says the person emailing him has been asking for action to b e taken against bloggers "this is not something intend to do"

 

Court adjourns, Full trial with be 5 Feb.

Edited January 19, 2016 by govan_derriere

[boabie 230]

"A High Court judge overseeing a case involving Rangers has raised an offside flag after telling how he had been targeted by internet bloggers

 

Mr Justice Peter Smith told lawyers that he had wrongly been accused of being a Freemason - and his wife had wrongly been accused of supporting Rangers.

 

The judge said he was not a Freemason - and he said his wife was from Edinburgh.

 

He has been asked to make decisions about a business dispute involving a sportswear firm run by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and Rangers.

 

And said he wanted lawyers to know what bloggers were saying after a preliminary High Court hearing in London.

 

Mr Justice Smith said his clerk had received emails responding to "various blogs".

 

"One of the blogs insists that I am a Freemason, which is wrong," said the judge.

 

"Also, my wife is a 'life-long Rangers supporter'."

 

He added: "She is from Edinburgh. The idea that she would support any Glasgow team is laughable."

 

Sportswear firm Sports Direct is claiming that Rangers breached a confidential agreement.

 

Mr Justice Smith is due to analyse evidence at a High Court trial in London in February.

 

:: Three years ago Mr Justice Smith had overseen a case involving Portsmouth. He had told Portsmouth fans gathered at a hearing in London that he was a Hull City fan. "

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/rangers/14214649.Judge_overseeing_Rangers_case__I_ve_been_targeted_by_internet_bloggers_who_called_me_a_freemason/?

[aweebluesoandso 290]

The Doleman character in court today tweeting the proceedings, has questioned the judges impartiality in a further tweet today. Surely that is bringing himself into contempt of court. He should be reported for his false allegations. Anyone know how to report his allegation?

 

Quote....

@jamesdoleman seems little point going with full trial, bar wearing a rangers first scarf I don't think the judge could be more pro *rangers

 

Edit. it was a retweet by him, but still foolish.

Edited January 19, 2016 by aweebluesoandso

[buster. 4,808]

Judge criticises Sports Direct in Rangers legal case

 

Tuesday 19 January 2016 14.49 GMT

 

Sports Direct, the embattled sportswear chain, has “abused” the legal system, according to the high court judge presiding over the retailer’s bitter legal battle with Rangers football club.

 

Mr Justice Peter Smith took the surprising step of registering his disapproval of the company’s approach after Sports Direct withdrew its claim for damages in the case –in which the companypreviously failed to have the football club’s chairman, Dave King, jailed over allegations he violated a gagging order.

 

King has been accused of breaching a confidentiality agreement between the football club and the FTSE 100 group after giving an interview to Sky Sports in July, in which he revealed the existence and contents of meetings related to contracts Rangers has with Sports Direct.

 

Sports Direct’s 55% owner, Mike Ashley, had claimed in his witness statement that the damage to the retailer of the alleged breach and others ran into “tens of millions of pounds”. The company then claimed £200,000 in damages, before reducing the claim to £50,000, and then withdrawing the claim on Monday. It is now asking for injunctions on the disclosure of its commercial deals with Rangers.

 

After being told by Sports Direct lawyers that the company was no longer seeking damages, Smith said: “The whole way that the claimants have been conducting themselves [in relation to the damages] … shows that they have been abusing processes of the court.”

 

Smith also struck out sections of Ashley’s witness statement that dealt with the alleged damages, which he said were not supported by a “statement of truth”.

 

William McCormick QC, for Rangers, told the judge: “They [sports Direct] simply will not deal with us on a proper basis. I am sure it is not the lawyers. It must be because they are held by their instructions.”

 

The latest chastisement of Sports Direct comes after the company was widely rounded on by politicians, business people and unions following a Guardian investigation in December.

 

The reports revealed how the retailer was effectively paying thousands of temporary warehouse workers below the national minimum wage. The coverage led to an urgent question in parliament, calls for an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs, and criticism from the Institute of Directors, which branded Sports Direct a “scar on British business”.

 

On New Year’s Eve, Sports Direct pledged £10m for a pay rise for staff from the start of this year. Ashley has also promised to lead a review of all Sports Direct’s temporary staff terms and conditions.

In December, when Sports Direct failed to have King jailed, Smith queried whether Ashley was interested in having a “sensible” business relationship with the Rangers chairman “or grinding him into the dust”. The judge added: “Maybe he is interested. I don’t know.”

 

The retailer’s claim over whether King breached the confidentiality agreement will be heard in February.

 

Sports Direct did not comment.

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/19/judge-criticises-sports-direct-in-rangers-legal-case

[calscot 0]

The Doleman character in court today tweeting the proceedings, has questioned the judges impartiality in a further tweet today. Surely that is bringing himself into contempt of court. He should be reported for his false allegations. Anyone know how to report his allegation?

 

Quote....

@jamesdoleman seems little point going with full trial, bar wearing a rangers first scarf I don't think the judge could be more pro *rangers

 

Edit. it was a retweet by him, but still foolish.

 

As a Tim, it is not surprising he can't see the difference, between being on the side of those in the right and against that of the nefarious, and being pro-Rangers. The madness ingrained on the Celtic mentality is fully shown with their incredibly strange, strong allegiance to a dispicable man who treats so many people so shabbily, and their twisted obsession with this legal battle, when it is obvious it totally bogus by SD, no matter which club is involved.