Day 236 - 17 04 96 - Page 19
Day 236
1 further evidence.
2
3 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Right. The second point is this, then. If
4 you are contemplating seeking leave to call further
5 evidence, it is obviously very important that it is served
6 as soon as possible.
7
8 MR. RAMPTON: I quite agree, but the same goes for both sides.
9
10 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I have not had it suggested at the moment
11 that there is going to be evidence beyond that already
12 served by the Defendants because some of their witnesses
13 who were served nearly 3 years ago, or very a considerable
14 time ago, dealt with heart disease, but were not actually
15 called.
16
17 MR. RAMPTON: That is right.
18
19 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Because of what the Defendants say their
20 understanding was of the admission. I am not going to
21 enter into the rights and wrongs of that, but the fact is
22 there were witnesses who were not called. Ms. Steel and
23 Mr. Morris have not suggested to me that they want to call
24 other and further witnesses; maybe they will. But they
25 have not at the moment. But what they are facing is having
26 to make a decision of which of those witnesses, whose
27 statements have been served. They should now call, if any.
28
29 MR. RAMPTON: I quite agree, with respect, and that is what, in
30 effect, we have done. Having taken our admission into
31 account, calculated what its effect is. Having looked at
32 your Lordship's meaning, we thought it appropriate to
33 contemplate asking your Lordship for leave to call further
34 evidence, simply because we did not have a witness on this
35 question.
36
37 What I may, with respect, suggest the Defendants might do
38 is to save themselves. We had two witnesses, I think it
39 was, on heart. One was Dr. Ryan and Dr. Brian and say to
40 those witnesses, if they are still in touch with
41 them: "Look, here is the judge's meaning. This is the
42 Plaintiffs admission. Is there anything you want to add to
43 what you have already said, in the light of that
44 information?" The matter, as it were, resurrected itself
45 simply because of the oddity, not I am saying an unhappy
46 one by any means at all, but because of the oddity that
47 your Lordship has made a ruling on a meaning halfway
48 through the trial, after the nutrition evidence has been
49 given.
50
51 MR. JUSTICE BELL: When are you contemplating producing a
52 statement of a completely new witness?
53
54 MR. RAMPTON: Very shortly.
55
56 MR. JUSTICE BELL: But when, because you mentioned it very many
57 weeks ago and I do not mind saying I kept very quiet
58 because I might not have been wildly attracted by the
59 prospect of a completely new medical witness.
60
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