Day 052 - 21 Nov 94 - Page 02

     
     1                                      Monday, 21st November 1994.
     2
     3   MR. MORRIS:  Thank you for delaying the start.
     4
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I wanted to take the opportunity to read your
     6        skeleton argument.  I have not looked at the list of some
     7        outstanding legal issues.
     8
     9   MR. MORRIS:  It might be helpful to go to that first.
    10
    11   MR. RAMPTON:  I do not think it would be in the least bit
    12        helpful.  May I make my application for leave to amend?
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I would like to read it.
    15
    16   MR. RAMPTON:  I am sorry.
    17
    18   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is there any reason why I should not hear the
    19        argument on the application for leave to amend the
    20        Statement of Claim?
    21
    22   MR. MORRIS:  First -- yes, we have no objection.
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  First, and then we will see where we are so
    25        far as time is concerned, because you have a number of
    26        topics on your list.  I cannot under any circumstances --
    27        we have Wednesday as a clear day -- sit on Wednesday.  So,
    28        would it be sensible to hear the argument in relation to
    29        the leave to amend the Statement of Claim and then see what
    30        of today or tomorrow we have left to look at any other
    31        matters or some of them at least?
    32
    33   MR. MORRIS:  Yes, if I may just say, the other matters are
    34        important and this is the first opportunity we have had to
    35        bring them up in a sort of coherent way.
    36
    37   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  I am not passing any comment on their
    38        importance.  It is clear that I should hear the argument on
    39        possible amendment of the Statement of Claim as soon as
    40        possible.
    41
    42   MR. RAMPTON:  I hope your Lordship has had a chance to look at
    43        our skeleton argument?
    44
    45   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, I have.
    46
    47   MR. RAMPTON:  It has been with your Lordship -- that is not a
    48        comment -- I hope now for a sufficient length of time.  May
    49        I hand in -- they are not all the authorities we have
    50        referred to, my Lord, and they are not all of each of the 
    51        authorities that I have copied passages from, but I have 
    52        copied, I hope, the important parts of most of them. 
    53        (Handed).  My Lord, I will not begin as I normally would
    54        by reading out the proposed amendment to your Lordship;
    55        your Lordship is familiar with it; it is actually set out
    56         -- I should say two amendments -- in the skeleton
    57        argument.
    58
    59        Can I take your Lordship straightaway, if I may, to Order
    60        20, Rule 5, of the Rules of the Supreme Court at page 368