And while the Prime Minister and the Government is working to pay compensation to the Ashcroft Alliance over BTL, we've learnt that BTL has paid Curtis Swasey the 25 thousand dollar award that the Supreme Court ordered them to. As viewers will remember, Justice Courtney Abel has ruled that BTL Shared the Corozal businessman's idea of lottery texting with the owners of the Mek Mi Rich Game Show, Sanjay Hotchandani and Minister Gaspar Vega's Son, Andre Vega. Justice Abel has ruled that Mek Mi Rich and Swasey's game, Super Slam Sunday, are basically the same.
BTL is refusing to accept the ruling of the court because they insist that the did not breach a non-disclosure agreement to share Swasey's idea with the owners of Mek Mi Rich. There is an appeal lodged at the Court of Appeal, which hasn't been heard as yet, but Swasey and his attorney had to force BTL's hand by getting the Supreme Court to crowfoot their assets. Today, Swasey'S attorney, Kareem Musa, explained to us the extreme action that they had to resort to:
Kareem Musa, Attorney for Curtis Swasey
"The court had made an initial order of $25,000 in favor of Mr. Swasey. We are currently appealing that award, we are saying that he should get higher, he should actually be getting a royalty attached to the profits of MMR Belize Limited. After the order was made, 21 days had passed and BTL had not paid the $25,000 over to his attorneys or to Mr. Swasey himself and so we had to take further action by way of writ of fieri facias to actually execute against BTL, so they had to go and crowfoot the company. In their attempts to crowfoot the company, that was when a cheque was cut in favor of Mr. Swasey for the $25,000."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir that looks quite embarrassing for the court to have to come after a company like this."
Kareem Musa, Attorney for Curtis Swasey
"This is a normal Belizean that had his idea stolen by highly politically connected individuals over at BTL, so it is a real embarrassment, it is a real disgrace against this company that claims to be for the Belizean people. Not only did they steal his idea but they also took long to pay a court order debt of $25,000. Now it's a complete embarrassment."
Daniel Ortiz
"What's the next step in terms of this case? What is going to happen in trying to resolve these issues?"
Kareem Musa, Attorney for Curtis Swasey
"One development in the case is that last week, there was the hearing of the legal costs, as to how much legal costs BTL and MMR Belize should pay for Mr. Swasey. The court had the hearing and in the end it was agreed by consent because we had submitted our bill but it was agreed after looking at all the numbers and our bill of costs, that BTL and MMR Belize should pay $59,000 to Mr. Swasey for his legal fees."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is there any risk in the court of appeal when the appeal finally goes through, for them to ask Mr. Swasey to return that $25,000?"
Kareem Musa, Attorney for Curtis Swasey
"In the court of appeal, both sides are appealing. We are appealing the award, the quantum and BTL, not MMR, surprisingly MMR is not appealing so that speaks volumes, but BTL is appealing the entire case. They are saying no they did not divulge this information to MMR Belize Limited. There is always litigation risk but we feel very comfortable going forward to the court of appeal."
When that appeal case goes to court, we'll tell you how it goes.
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