By William Madouk
UAP Insurance Company’s defense advocate has opted to proceed with the ongoing court hearing, rather than pursuing an appeal.
Instead, the defense lawyer has presented new evidence, claiming to have made cash payments to dismissed national staff as part of a settlement.
On December 17th, presiding Judge Francis Amum granted defense attorney Mr. Gabriel Anyar additional time to determine his next course of action after he reintroduced a previously rejected legal objection.
However, the UAP lawyer ultimately decided against an appeal and filed a counterclaim, alleging that the company had already compensated the dismissed staff.
“They came with something called counterclaim, in that claim, they are saying, that the plaintiffs from those National Staff – took the money from them, so they are claiming that money also in the same case,” Marko Reech-the plaintiff’s lawyer explained.
Mr. Reech added that he is going to reply to defense lawyer’s claim in the court session scheduled for December 20.
Nevertheless, it is not clear how much did insurance firm paid the national staff and why on alleged payment but plaintiff’s lawyer noted that he would study the claim and clear the air.
“Actually, I’m going to pass through the paper and I will make a clarification on it on Friday. I didn’t read the counterclaim fully – So it’s difficult for me now to disclose it,” he stated.
Mr. Reech cited that the defendant might have dropped the idea of appealing to the court of appeal over the rejected legal objection.
To him, UAP Company is playing a delay tactic, however allegedly without evidence to prove their claims
“They [defense team] are now coming in with the new assumption again. That new assumption, we are going to look on it and we will continue,” he said.
“They are now using the tactic of delaying the case, I don’t think they have evidence to prove their case,” he said.