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Brady Sues Bruce
Brady Sues Bruce: PM To Vigorously Defend Manatt Mess Claims
Published: Sunday | October 3, 201034 Comments and 0 Reactions
Brady
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Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Harold Brady, the attorney who stands mysteriously at the centre of the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips (MPP) imbroglio, has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
A Sunday Gleaner probe has revealed that Brady's attorneys submitted the documents late Friday, more than a week after Golding was asked to respond to a strongly worded letter from them.
It is understood that an ultimatum contained in the initial document to Golding ended last Thursday.
The suit cites damages for libel, exemplary or aggravated damages, costs, as well as such further and/other relief.
Brady's suit also claims libel for various statements "Golding made on September 14, 2010, at a press conference that contained words that were defamatory".
The suit further claims that Brady suffered injuries, loss, and damage.
Golding issued a statement yesterday describing
Brady's allegations as false, malicious, and "designed to conceal his misconduct in this matter".
He said he would not withdraw from positions he had taken in relation to the engagement of MPP and Mr Brady's conduct in the matter "as these positions are true and will be corroborated".
"On September 15, 2010, attorneys representing Mr Harold Brady wrote to me making certain allegations regarding my actions and instructions to him on the engagement of the US law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Mr Brady's lawyers demanded a retraction of certain public statements I made on his involvement in the MPP matter," Golding said in his statement.
He said Brady's suit was "frivolous and vexatious in law and shall be vigorously defended".
The documents obtained by The Sunday Gleaner, just after they were filed late Friday, contend that Brady has been put to expense, and has suffered loss and damage, including damage to his reputation.
Brady's attorneys have given Golding 14 days to respond.
not in good standing
They had penned a letter to Golding days after the JLP leader claimed that Brady was not a member of the party.
Golding declared then that Brady was not in good standing with the party as his fees had not been paid.
Brady's attorneys had demanded that Golding respond to claims in the letter that was dispatched to him last Thursday.
But early last week, checks with Brady revealed that the response had not been forthcoming.
When contacted yesterday, Brady declined to comment on the matter.
Brady's lawsuit has come many months after Golding hinted that the long-standing party member could be penalised for failing to follow the party's directives in the Manatt affair.
Last year, Brady was used by the JLP as a liaison to Manatt, an influential United States-based law firm, to assist the Government with a diplomatic stand-off that was threatening to explode in the face of Bruce Golding.
Instead, the matter boomeranged out of control when opposition member Dr Peter Phillips brought the matter to light in Parliament, and from the outset, Brady appeared to be the fall guy.
General Secretary Karl Samuda was ushered into the fray to calm the early storms when Information Minister Daryl Vaz launched a broadside against Brady on the airwaves as the public sought answers.
The latest scene in the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips drama unfolds as the JLP wrestles with an impending challenge to JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda by Golding's henchman, Daryl Vaz, described in party circles as a potent kingmaker.
additional pressure
It is yet to be determined if the governing party - struggling to maintain its focus on the nation's business - will be able to withstand additional pressure by the lawsuit involving two influential figures in the JLP, as well as the likelihood of a bitter internal election.
Both the emerging Vaz and the veteran Samuda are powerful forces that can jolt the core of the party.
Daryl Vaz's father, Douglas, was a member of the so-called Gang of Five - of which Samuda was a part - that splintered the JLP.
His son sided with Golding, who was then the JLP chairman and Seaga's main ally.
The latest development serves as an indication that more than 14 months after the Mannat mess erupted, it continues to haunt the JLP administration.
The weather seems to have saved the day for the struggling party as another fierce showdown, which was anticipated to take place today, has been averted.
The rain has forced a postponement of a planned session of the party's powerful Central Executive, during which it was expected that Golding would have delivered an ultimatum to its members to either give him their full backing, or watch him walk away.
Gleaner sources say Golding continues to be enraged and disappointed that many influential members within the party have not sided with him in the aftermath of the brouhaha which was precipitated by his comment that Brady had been ditched from the party.
Published: Sunday | October 3, 201034 Comments and 0 Reactions
Brady
1 2 >
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Harold Brady, the attorney who stands mysteriously at the centre of the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips (MPP) imbroglio, has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
A Sunday Gleaner probe has revealed that Brady's attorneys submitted the documents late Friday, more than a week after Golding was asked to respond to a strongly worded letter from them.
It is understood that an ultimatum contained in the initial document to Golding ended last Thursday.
The suit cites damages for libel, exemplary or aggravated damages, costs, as well as such further and/other relief.
Brady's suit also claims libel for various statements "Golding made on September 14, 2010, at a press conference that contained words that were defamatory".
The suit further claims that Brady suffered injuries, loss, and damage.
Golding issued a statement yesterday describing
Brady's allegations as false, malicious, and "designed to conceal his misconduct in this matter".
He said he would not withdraw from positions he had taken in relation to the engagement of MPP and Mr Brady's conduct in the matter "as these positions are true and will be corroborated".
"On September 15, 2010, attorneys representing Mr Harold Brady wrote to me making certain allegations regarding my actions and instructions to him on the engagement of the US law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Mr Brady's lawyers demanded a retraction of certain public statements I made on his involvement in the MPP matter," Golding said in his statement.
He said Brady's suit was "frivolous and vexatious in law and shall be vigorously defended".
The documents obtained by The Sunday Gleaner, just after they were filed late Friday, contend that Brady has been put to expense, and has suffered loss and damage, including damage to his reputation.
Brady's attorneys have given Golding 14 days to respond.
not in good standing
They had penned a letter to Golding days after the JLP leader claimed that Brady was not a member of the party.
Golding declared then that Brady was not in good standing with the party as his fees had not been paid.
Brady's attorneys had demanded that Golding respond to claims in the letter that was dispatched to him last Thursday.
But early last week, checks with Brady revealed that the response had not been forthcoming.
When contacted yesterday, Brady declined to comment on the matter.
Brady's lawsuit has come many months after Golding hinted that the long-standing party member could be penalised for failing to follow the party's directives in the Manatt affair.
Last year, Brady was used by the JLP as a liaison to Manatt, an influential United States-based law firm, to assist the Government with a diplomatic stand-off that was threatening to explode in the face of Bruce Golding.
Instead, the matter boomeranged out of control when opposition member Dr Peter Phillips brought the matter to light in Parliament, and from the outset, Brady appeared to be the fall guy.
General Secretary Karl Samuda was ushered into the fray to calm the early storms when Information Minister Daryl Vaz launched a broadside against Brady on the airwaves as the public sought answers.
The latest scene in the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips drama unfolds as the JLP wrestles with an impending challenge to JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda by Golding's henchman, Daryl Vaz, described in party circles as a potent kingmaker.
additional pressure
It is yet to be determined if the governing party - struggling to maintain its focus on the nation's business - will be able to withstand additional pressure by the lawsuit involving two influential figures in the JLP, as well as the likelihood of a bitter internal election.
Both the emerging Vaz and the veteran Samuda are powerful forces that can jolt the core of the party.
Daryl Vaz's father, Douglas, was a member of the so-called Gang of Five - of which Samuda was a part - that splintered the JLP.
His son sided with Golding, who was then the JLP chairman and Seaga's main ally.
The latest development serves as an indication that more than 14 months after the Mannat mess erupted, it continues to haunt the JLP administration.
The weather seems to have saved the day for the struggling party as another fierce showdown, which was anticipated to take place today, has been averted.
The rain has forced a postponement of a planned session of the party's powerful Central Executive, during which it was expected that Golding would have delivered an ultimatum to its members to either give him their full backing, or watch him walk away.
Gleaner sources say Golding continues to be enraged and disappointed that many influential members within the party have not sided with him in the aftermath of the brouhaha which was precipitated by his comment that Brady had been ditched from the party.
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