Day 236 - 17 04 96 - Page 13

 
 

                                                                  Day 236
 
 
 
 
 
     1        the timetable goes on beyond that, but I repeat what I said
     2        to Mr. Rampton that I would have thought it might be
     3        productive if he were more helpful, if he were prepared
     4        with Mr. Atkinson, to put any legal submissions which he
     5        has done down in writing, and serve them, so you can go
     6        away and contemplate those and they can then be dealt with
     7        as part of final speeches rather than take the court time
     8        for it, which on past form, and it is perfectly
     9        understandable, merely means that Mr. Rampton rehearses
    10        them in open court.  They are transcribed, while you go
    11        away and consider what is on the transcript.  If that is
    12        what we end up doing, it is far better they just be reduced
    13        to writing in the first place and then given to you.
    14
    15        What it seemed to me is that with a reasonable amount of
    16        expedition, without me putting express limits on how long
    17        witnesses should spend in the witness box, which I will do,
    18        if necessary, but would much prefer to avoid; I would like
    19        everyone to be directing their minds to being able to close
    20        this evidence, so everyone knows where they stand, what
    21        their material is, for instance, by the end of June.  That
    22        should be the target, in my view.
    23
    24        Let us leave the question of Mr. Carroll and looking at
    25        documentation at Barlow's over for the moment.  Do you know
    26        anything more about nutrition witnesses and what would you
    27        like to say about the other litigation?
    28
    29   MR. MORRIS:  Just about the other litigation, I was asked to
    30        bring this up today, and I said that I would, that it was
    31        adjourned for a technical reason from Monday lunchtime and
    32        through, when I say no fault of our party in the case, and
    33        the dates which the court looked into for the resumption,
    34        possible resumption of that trial was which, the actual
    35        evidence had not started; there was just legal argument in
    36        the morning.  Was either the 2nd and 3rd of May in two
    37        weeks time, or the 8th and 9th of August.
    38
    39   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do they know that this evidence in this case
    40        could well be completed at the end of June with some four
    41        weeks?
    42
    43   MR. MORRIS:  I think they booked the earlier possible dates and
    44        those were the two windows?
    45
    46   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Was there any restistance to 8th and 9th
    47        August?
    48
    49   MR. MORRIS:  I think they preferred to get it back as soon as
    50        possible, so that is why. 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I do not like the idea of 2nd and 3rd May. 
    53
    54   MR. MORRIS:  I must admit I do not either, but I did say I put
    55        it to the court for this court to decide.  Possibly the
    56        judge in that case was not putting any pressure ----
    57
    58   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Who was the judge?  Can you remember his or
    59        her name?
    60
 
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