Frankie 8,367 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) [tweet]690478711183937536[/tweet] http://news.stv.tv/west-central/1339992-dave-king-cleared-over-mike-ashley-gagging-order-breach-allegations/ Rangers chairman Dave King has been formally cleared by the High Court of committing a contempt of court over his dealings with Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley. Mr Justice Peter Smith gave his written ruling on Friday in response to allegations that Mr King had committed contempt in an alleged breach of a gagging order. STV News reported that the judge had verbally cleared Mr King of the allegations in December. Earlier that month, Mr Ashley, owner of Newcastle United, failed in his bid to persuade the judge that Mr King should be jailed over the issue. Mr King had faced the possibility of a fine or penalties if found guilty. Mr Ashley and his sportswear company had claimed the Rangers chairman was is in contempt because he gave a media interview revealing the existence of a meeting and discussions related to contracts between Sports Direct and Rangers. But Mr King stated that he had no recollection of whether or not he said the words complained of in a Sky Sports interview. The London legal battles, estimated to have cost some £400,000 so far, are the latest development in a conflict which started when Mr King took over running Rangers and centres on the commercial arrangements between the club and Sports Direct and its subsidiaries. A trial on whether King breached the terms of the injunction is due to call in London on February 8. Edited January 22, 2016 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,367 Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 Not been a good week for big Mike... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,471 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 A very quick decision. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boabie 230 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14223667.Rangers_chairman_Dave_King_cleared_over_contempt_of_court/? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 The Fat Man Ashley is on the ropes, keep punching this reprobate till he burst, metaphorically speaking of course 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oleg_Mcnoleg 50 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Not been a good week for big Mike... Not nearly bad enough for my liking. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trublusince1982 243 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Good news hopefully we recoup some of the money we have spent. Will there be any movement on the gagging order? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,367 Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 Good news hopefully we recoup some of the money we have spent. Will there be any movement on the gagging order? That may not be known until the Feb 8th court date and I'd imagine that may last a day or two before a written judgment is made. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boabie 230 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Good news hopefully we recoup some of the money we have spent. Will there be any movement on the gagging order? We have been awarded interim costs of £70,000 . A hearing on gagging etc will be heard next month. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,367 Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) Very strong words in the written judgment: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/22/judge-attacks-mike-ashley-for-abusing-legal-system-against-rangers-boss?CMP=share_btn_tw Mike Ashley, the founder of Sports Direct, has been abusing the legal system to “intimidate” Dave King, the chairman of Rangers football club, by using “deplorable tactics” to pursue a vendetta against his rival, a high court judge has said. The comments are the latest setback for the billionaire, who on Wednesday was chastised by the same judge for abusing the courts in a separate strand of his legal battle with Rangers, who he accuses of breaching the terms of a confidentiality agreement. On Friday, the parties returned to court to hear Mr Justice Peter Smith explain his reasons for refusing Ashley’s previous efforts to have King jailed before Christmas for allegedly revealing details of confidential deals. The judge cleared King of contempt of court. Smith said: “From start to finish [the request to jail King] was designed to intimidate rather than seek a proper sanction for an alleged breach. It was a muscular tactic using the threat of committal that the court should deplore. “We have to be alert to balance the need of an applicant with a genuine need for the court to adjudicate ... and [bringing respondents to court for matters they] should not have to deal with.” Smith awarded Rangers interim costs of £70,000 as the parties head towards a fuller hearing next month, when Sports Direct is seeking an injunction to prevent Rangers revealing details of its contracts with the retailer. Smith’s written judgment added: “I have referred to Mr King’s evidence which is unchallenged that Mr Ashley is pursuing a vendetta against him. Further, I question what damage was being sustained by [sports Direct] even if it established the breaches.” Edited January 22, 2016 by Frankie 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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