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Olympic Stadium; our day in court

It might seem to have gone quiet but that is because we have been preparing for the Information Tribunal hearing, next Monday Jan 25th.

This is the result of the LLDC appealing the decision of the Information Commissioner that they should publish the entire contract with redaction.

The Tribunal is a kind of court, the panel of three consists of a QC and two lay people. The case is the LLDC (Appellant) versus the ICO, and me as the Second Party. I am allowed to participate because I asked the original FOI question. However I am not allowed to co-operate with the ICO. Worse, the LLDC successfully argued that I should not be able to see all the evidence they will present because it includes some of the information we seek to make public. The ICO does get to see it, however.

I've been assured by friends in the FOI sphere that the Tribunals do go out of their way to be fair. Nevertheless I have not been leaving anything to chance. The LLDC have of course hired a shit-hot specialist lawyer (paid for by you, of course)while the ICO rely on their regular salaried solicitor. That said, the ICO apparently win 71% of cases at this stage and they may feel they don't themselves need to waste taxpayers' money defending this one.

The LLDC have been up to their tricks, submitting evidence after deadlines (they were at it even this afternoon, but I was able to respond immediately), and pleading time because of illness etc.

However we have a solid case. I've been admirably assisted in preparation of it by @Dippenhall, but otherwise nobody else from the Trust has been distracted by this. Instead I have enjoyed the backing of the Coalition and its formidable media machine. Right after the Tribunal ends we will present the media with new evidence items, including one that blows out of the water Sullivan's claim that "they can rent it for 340 more days because we only need it for 25".

The Tribunal will not make a decision on the day, they expect it will take at least two weeks, but it is open to the public and media

All proper Charlton welcome. You might meet Gavros. But probably not the Baroness. West Ham refused to field a witness. Maybe someone would like to tweet. I won't be able to.

Venue details

I can now confirm that the hearing will take place on 25th January 2016 at 10.00am. It will be held at Field House, 15 Bream's Buildings, London, EC4A 1DZ. The Tribunal office has been told that Court 7 has been booked, but you should check with reception on the day in case that is changed.




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Comments

  • stonemuse
    stonemuse Posts: 34,015
    Good luck, will follow with interest
  • cafcdave123
    cafcdave123 Posts: 11,491
    Great effort Prague
  • The Red Robin
    The Red Robin Posts: 26,129
    Superb, well done Prague.
  • TelMc32
    TelMc32 Posts: 9,056
    Excellent work @PragueAddick

    Would have been nice to be there, but already committed further along in West End that morning. You're only a couple of minutes walk from Mishcon (rear of office is on Lincoln's Inn). Did they ever continue their involvement?
  • Cardinal Sin
    Cardinal Sin Posts: 5,233
    The stable doors open I'm afraid....
  • Redmidland
    Redmidland Posts: 44,700
    best of luck @pragueaddick, pity I can be there to describe the 'action' on a 'court thread'!!
  • Great stuff, PA & much admiration for all your work & time on this.

    Fingers crossed for the decision we all are hoping for.
  • J BLOCK
    J BLOCK Posts: 8,315
    Good on you Prague you're speaking for many of us football fans.
  • Fumbluff
    Fumbluff Posts: 10,129
    Good luck Richard, great work.




    Don't wear the mustard gilet though
  • Davo55
    Davo55 Posts: 7,838
    @PragueAddick

    Very well done. I will try to come along. Any idea how long it will be?

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  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,157
    Fumbluff said:

    Good luck Richard, great work.

    Don't wear the mustard gilet though

    You'll be pleased to hear that yesterday I invested in some TV training, with a Czech former news anchor. She has banned the gilet from going anywhere near a TV camera. The correct attire for Monday has already been chosen, with her help.





  • Fumbluff
    Fumbluff Posts: 10,129

    Fumbluff said:

    Good luck Richard, great work.

    Don't wear the mustard gilet though

    You'll be pleased to hear that yesterday I invested in some TV training, with a Czech former news anchor. She has banned the gilet from going anywhere near a TV camera. The correct attire for Monday has already been chosen, with her help.





  • cafcdave123
    cafcdave123 Posts: 11,491

    Fumbluff said:

    Good luck Richard, great work.

    Don't wear the mustard gilet though

    You'll be pleased to hear that yesterday I invested in some TV training, with a Czech former news anchor. She has banned the gilet from going anywhere near a TV camera. The correct attire for Monday has already been chosen, with her help.





    Latex cat suit it is then....
  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    Prague's carefully chosen Monday outfit.

    image
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,157
    This thread isn't turning out as I expected :-)
  • PL54
    PL54 Posts: 10,757
    This sounds like a lot of effort and dedication - well done.
  • AFKABartram
    AFKABartram Posts: 57,833
    Good luck Prague, proper David v Goliath stuff
  • seth plum said:

    Prague's carefully chosen Monday outfit.

    image

    Looks like a nice boy.

  • JohnBoyUK
    JohnBoyUK Posts: 9,022
    Well done Prague, fingers crossed
  • Good luck, as it happens I am seeing someone in that part of town so maybe able come along and spend an hour or so.
    Will not be till a bit later though.

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  • Dog with a bone Richard.
  • JohnBoyUK said:

    Well done Prague, fingers crossed

    I hope you've got BBC1 on as well as perusing here..
  • Good luck after lots of hard work. Out of interest what would the desired outcome be of this? Can the contract still be ripped up?
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,157

    JohnBoyUK said:

    Well done Prague, fingers crossed

    I hope you've got BBC1 on as well as perusing here..

    Why, what's on?
  • JohnBoyUK said:

    Well done Prague, fingers crossed

    I hope you've got BBC1 on as well as perusing here..

    Why, what's on?
    Nowt very exciting, Leicester v Spurs
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,157

    Good luck after lots of hard work. Out of interest what would the desired outcome be of this? Can the contract still be ripped up?

    Well a contract is a contract. However politics is politics, and with Johnson out of the way, they are losing cover, especially if Khan wins.Then there is the State Aid question. If the other clubs see the full extent of it, they could well decide to raise a new complaint.

  • seth plum said:

    Prague's carefully chosen Monday outfit.

    image

    Hope that's not Belgium lace.
  • Whatever the result on the day no one could have done more to get it into the public realm than your good self Prague. Well done and good luck!
  • well done and good luck Prague
  • cafcnutter
    cafcnutter Posts: 184
    edited January 2016
    Congratulations Prague on your hard work and determination yes the end result is important but also knowing that you have done your very best is satisfying too.
    Good luck on the day will be waiting to hear the outcome.