M
E M 0 R A N D U M
13
May 1992
To:
All Members of the Management Committee
FROM:
Dorothy Venables
At
Management Committee on 7 May we needed
to make a swift decision on the trust
continuing to under-write Roger's legal
costs, in a long-standing action for
serious slander against him in the course
of his duties. Because we did not have
all the information the Management
Committee delegated the decision to be a
taken by a sub-group.
Thus
Martin, Richard, Philip and I have now
agreed to extend the underwriting limits,
from the £4,000 granted in 1987 to the
£30,000 which is now expected to
suffice. We felt that the delay and the
burgeoning of the legal costs did not
alter the principle of the initial
decision. This was that NKAT ought to
defend the professional repute of the
staff, if it comes under serious attack
in the course of their work and without
cause.
A
slander action can only be brought by an
individual, not by the Trust but the
lawyers had advised that we could
under-write Roger's costs. Those who were
around at the time will remember that the
Management Committee enquired very
closely into the events, and concluded
that the accusations being made against
Roger were without foundation.
The
Management Committee agreed that all
Trustees should now be informed, giving
you 24 hours to contact me please, if you
dissent from this decision to continue
under-writing the costs of the case.
The
lawyers have just advised me that we have
a 65-70% chance of winning, with a good
chance of collecting the costs as he
apparently holds a short lease on a local
business and residential property, and
has recently sold a house. If Roger
loses, the lawyers gauge that that will
only incur at most, further costs of
£5,000 nett approximately.