7 News Belize

BTL Will Appeal Mek Mi Rich Judgment
posted (June 6, 2016)
Viewers will remember the very explosive case in which Corozal Businessman Curtis Swasey won against BTL and Mek Mi Rich Directors, Sunjay Hotchandani and Andre Vega, the son of outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. Justice Courtney Abel ruled that BTL gave Swasey's idea of lottery texting away to the owners of Mek Mi Rich, and they profited at his expense.

Well, 7News has learned that BTL has filed an appeal against Justice Abel's decision about 3 and a half weeks ago. The grounds of appeal that BTL's attorneys intend to submit are that the trial judged erred in law when he found that Swasey had a proprietary right over the concept of SMS lottery texting. BTL contends that the judge failed to, quote, "take into account the overwhelming evidence that the… concept was in the public domain and that the appellant and MMR were already aware of it." End quote. As viewers will remember, a major point for BTL was that this concept was in existence in the US years before Swasey approached them to partner in his game in Belize.

Also, BTL intends to argue the ground that the trial judge erred when he found that telephone company disclosed Swasey's concept to the directors of Mek Mi Rich. As we told you back in February, the judge agreed with Curtis Swasy that though there was no direct link - "no smoking gun" - to show that BTL gave away Swasey's information, there was enough circumstantial evidence to show the similarities between his game and Mek Mi Rich, and that BTL was the only connection between the two.

Well, BTL is seeking to have the Court of Appeal review that decision for itself and decide if the trial judge's reasoning is sound.

One day after receiving the notice of appeal, Curtis Swasey's attorney fired off their own notice of a cross-appeal, in which they will appeal the decision of the judge to award only $25,000 dollars. Swasey and his attorney believe that they should have gotten more money in vindication of their case.

The Court of Appeal is yet to set a date for hearing.

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