A communiqué from an unqualified observer

Well, that was very dry stuff indeed!

Dear reader, I listened intently on your behalf and scribbled as they spoke.

However,  I’m not a lawyer and make no claim to any special skillset on these matters.

Essentially, SDIR’s guy presented a cost budget to the court and the chap who was representing TRFC countering with a lower number.

Sevco’s man in court, Mr Shah, responded with why their lower figures were appropriate.

Mr Hussein had said that Sevco’s costings were “divorced from reality”.

For example, the two budget figures  for bringing in expert witnesses were:

£539k (SDIR)

£411k (TRFC).

Solicitor’s time costs were:

£185k (SDIR)

£74k (TRFC)

The time budgets for the disclosure procedures were also disputed:

680hrs (SDIR)

530hrs (TRFC)

For witnesses:

605hrs (SDIR0

380hrs (TRFC)

Trial preparation:

690hrs (SDIR)

150hrs (TRFC).

On this one TRFC’s guy stated that SDIR’s figures were “excessive my lord”.

SDIR’s guy countered by saying that having two “silks” on the job for SDIR was “additive not duplicative”.

One thing that did jump up at me was when Mr Hussein (SDIR’s guy) stated that the “speedy trial” had lasted 3.5 days, but it had been marked down for four.

He then said that this NEW trial would last “three times as long”.

Moreover, he mentioned that there were “serious allegations of deceit”.

In fairness, at that point, I was listening VERY carefully!

The judge stated that he would hand down a ruling tomorrow on these matters and that the lawyers did not need to attend.