Day 236 - 17 04 96 - Page 6

 
 

                                                                  Day 236
 
 
 
 
 
     1   MR. RAMPTON:  I do not control Mr. Morganti.
     2
     3   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, just give me a moment.  (Pause)  Yes. Is
     4        there anything you wish to say, Ms. Steel or Mr. Morris,
     5        about that?
     6
     7   MR. MORRIS:  Yes.  If the first date cannot be given, I think
     8        that it should be ordered to give discovery by the end of
     9        this week because we have witnesses that will be able to
    10        deal with these matters coming next Monday and Tuesday.
    11        So, I think that it will be helpful if discovery is put in
    12        train and then if the statement of Mr. Morganti arrives in
    13        time, the Plaintiffs could suspend the need to give the
    14        discovery.
    15
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I do not believe you need that.  Of course,
    17        it might be very well if you have that information before
    18        Miss Watson and Mr. Monbiot gave evidence.  It might be
    19        more important that you have it before Miss Bramford gives
    20        evidence but, as I understand it, she is away for about 2
    21        weeks or so yet.
    22
    23   MR. MORRIS:  I do not know exactly when she is coming back.  She
    24        may be back this Sunday evening.
    25
    26   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  She might go in the middle of next week.
    27
    28   MR. MORRIS:  She might.  I do not know whether she will be back
    29        then, or whether she is available immediately afterwards or
    30        later, but obviously we will try and slot her in as soon as
    31        possible.
    32
    33   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I would like you to raise the matter again
    34        for me if you will on Monday morning; not later than Monday
    35        morning, Mr. Rampton.
    36
    37   MR. RAMPTON:  Yes, my Lord certainly.
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I appreciate what you say about Mr. Morganti,
    40        but time is very short.
    41
    42   MR. RAMPTON:  I agree.  I quite agree.  As I say, if I cannot
    43        get him -- if I cannot get the information that he said he
    44        is willing to give within a reasonable time, then, as
    45        I say, I am quite willing to submit to the order for
    46        discovery.  Obviously I would rather do it by Mr.
    47        Morganti's route because I believe it is likely to be
    48        rather more informative.
    49
    50   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That is what I had in mind. 
    51 
    52   MR. RAMPTON:  To be quite frank, the preliminary inquiries which 
    53        we have naturally enough made, suggests there is no
    54        discovery to be made anyway.  So Mr. Morganti, from
    55        everybody's point of view, is likely to be more effective.
    56
    57   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  The final two other matters which occur
    58        to me.  There was the Oakbrook file in relation for the
    59        World Wildlife Fund.
    60
 
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