Speaker ordered to pay legal fees for ‘unreasonable’ court action
The High Court has ordered House of Assembly Speaker, Julian Willock, to pay the legal fees for the three Commission of Inquiry (COI) attorneys against whom filed a court injunction and later withdrew.
Justice Adrian Jack made that ruling in a judgment dated September 28.
“There is no reason why the COI should be out of pocket for having to defend Willock’s claim,” said Justice Jack before turning his attention to Attorney General Dawn Smith who Willock also targeted in his failed court crusade.
“As to the costs of the Attorney General, she seeks those costs [for the Speaker to pay]. I see nothing unreasonable in her so doing. She, no doubt, has a limited budget. There is no reason why her budget should be whittled down defending claims conducted unreasonably,” Justice Jack reasoned.
He continued: “In the current case I have held that Mr Willock acted unreasonably in issuing the proceedings and then discontinuing them at the first indication that there might be procedural problems with the case … Accordingly, I shall order that Mr Willock pay the defendants’ costs.”
Speaker could pay up to $121K
Willock had filed an injunction weeks ago against three of the COI’s attorneys – Rhea Harrikisson, Andrew King and Bilal Rawat – from continuing as participants unless and until they were properly called to the bar in the BVI, in accordance with the law.
Willock later withdrew the matter after failing to get the AG’s permission to move the matter forward in the High Court. After a failed last-minute attempt to get the permission he needed, Willock then sought to take legal action against AG Smith.
That also failed.
The three main defendants from the COI claimed that they had incurred $71,388.59 in expenses, while AG Smith assessed her own costs in the matter at $6,084.00.
Willock must now pay those sums. However, he might have to pay more if the court accepts new developments that the COI attorneys’ legal fees have climbed to $115,348.50.
It is not immediately clear whether taxpayers will have to shoulder the financial burden of Willock’s latest legal faux pas.
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The judge made the order against Willockn not the BVI government. There is absolutely no reason our money should be spent on his vanity legal actions
CHA-CHING!!!! Serve your *$$ right.
Wow. you might be right. but I see a big GOV Contract coming soon.
Well Well, any “big GOV contract” JW tries to get will have to go to tender. The Governor (who is in the cabinet) will be watching and will report back to the UK. It will be many many years, if ever, before politicians can return to their thi***ng ways.
It looks like JW will have to pay this according to a court order schedule, so there is no time for further nonsense. He is in big trouble, and no one is going to help him.
Of course tax payers should not have to be burdened with more from this foolish non elected Mr. S.
of the poetic kind for the esteemed bewigged one.
Welpppp, ask and you shall receive. Put that in yuh loud A** pipe and smoke it papa 🙂
That’s what arrogance got him. A big bill. Now pay up!
A new important big Bill before the HOA.
Enforcement for non payment by committal please.
He will be ok not a big deal
He also allegedly owes the previous costs in the V matter. He is NOT THAT RICH!!!!
Arr***** and foolish.
Just look at his f***. A national em****assment to the BVI. I am so ashamed that this is the type of person that our government chose to lead the highest law making body in the land all because he uses his site to tear down the opposition parties. It’s a disgrace.
Let that t** baby in the dolly house s**k on that!!
what a d**n waste of time and tax payers money, the man is really full of his self damn c***n
Pay up forthwith. Take judge jack to trial now!
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let all those VIP fools forfit 2 months salary each to help him…
you may have a point there ? the white l**y run things around here / hence the gorgeous( white ) wig
I bet from now on he keeps his *$$ tighter than a duck’s
Let it be known:
Not a dollar or our money going towards that bill.
We, the taxpayers, did not give him permission to file that stupid lawsuit.
Oh dear what a shame. The Speaker f**ked around and now he finding out
For so long the people of the BVI sit back for years and watch so much political corruption. Don’t remain so gullible. Start acting. I don’t know why you all hate protesting.
The wigged one in a shameless attempt to userp the authority of the AG by attempting to practice law for which he is ill-prepared has demonstratively proven
that his personal ambitions for relevance has surpassed his usefulness for the position he presently holds and as such must be replaced.
Closing my eyes it like he mouth full of horse wood
Eat up Willi goat
He should sell his Wig
This is just the start, the VIP Govt is collapsing around our feet. When the COI publish their findings we will be free of this bunch for ever.
I wonder if the Other site will report this news.
The COI has to watch closely to make sure that they don’t try to include this 121k into a contract with a crony for the crony to give Willock the money to pay. Civil servants keep your eyes open and don’t get in trouble for these imposters masquerading as leaders.