Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 04


     
     1        case -- I know your Lordship has -- of two things.  The
     2        first is that this is a case which is potentially
     3        absolutely inundated with documents.  If one were disclosed
     4        everything that bore upon a subject, in even the remotest
     5        way, though not relevant to any issue, one really would be
     6        here for years and years and years.  That is the first
     7        observation.  I know your Lordship is conscious of that.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am very conscious of that.
    10
    11   MR. RAMPTON:  For that matter, not just from the point of view
    12        of the time and expense which it costs McDonald's but, of
    13        course, there is what was recently averted to -----
    14
    15   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Assume that I can imagine everything you
    16        might want to say in that area.  In this case, as they are
    17        actually pinned to the documents in court, is there any
    18        reason why they should not see them perhaps over the -----
    19
    20   MR. RAMPTON:  Mrs. Brinley-Codd has spent some time going
    21        through the documents before we came to court so as to copy
    22        those which were arguably relevant.  I know what is going
    23        to happen with Mr. Walker in the witness box if these
    24        documents are produced.  I do not propose to give any
    25        explanation on them.  What is going to happen is that we
    26        are going to spend an hour with Mr. Walker and the
    27        Defendants asking questions in pursuit of an enquiry which
    28        very likely has nothing whatever to do with the case.
    29
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That may or may not turn out to be
    31        justified.  What I suggest in this instance is, if you hold
    32        over your Brazil cross-examination until after the mid-day
    33        adjournment, unless you were going ----
    34
    35   MR. MORRIS:  We wanted to get on with that, really.
    36
    37   MS. STEEL:  But we can leave those parts until after the mid-day
    38        adjournment.
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Right.  What I suggest on this occasion is
    41        that you be given those when we rise at 1 o'clock, or
    42        thereabouts, and if Mrs. Brinley-Codd -- it is not for me
    43        to tell her what to do -- would be so kind as to return a
    44        few minutes before we resume this afternoon, unless she is
    45        required elsewhere so that if Ms. Steel or Mr. Morris wants
    46        an explanation she can give the best explain that she can.
    47
    48   MR. RAMPTON:  That is the point, no.  Some of them speak for
    49        themselves; some of them are impenetrable but, quite
    50        plainly, have nothing whatever do with the question which 
    51        I submitted to your Lordship a moment ago is the one which 
    52        actually matters in this part of the case.  I say that with 
    53        some feeling.  I also would say emphatically that I do not
    54        intend, unless I am ordered by your Lordship, to make
    55        discovery of documents just because the Defendants think
    56        there may be something which they might like to see.  I do
    57        intend to adhere -----
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Are they actually here in court?
    60

Prev Next Index