A dramatic afternoon in the Manchester Court this afternoon for the injunction hearing of Paul Elliott v Panorama Magic. The courtroom drama was played out on Zoom and was initially delayed as desperate Charlton fans blocked the lines preventing Paul Elliott and other key parties from joining the call.
Elliott's desire for an injunction hearing was largely based upon who could prove ownership of ESI. Elliott's QC managed to expose Marian Mihail's evidence under cross-examination when it became clear that Mihail had confirmed a sale to Elliott back in July. Panorama's lawyer, Lauren Kreamer, later countered this by reminding the judge that he had already ruled in the Matt Southall appeal that Panorama Magic owned the club at that time.
The other key consideration appeared to be the level of risk involved to either party by delaying a verdict until it could be tried in more detail or indeed heard at an injunction appeal. In the end, Judge Pearce decided to allow a trial but, crucially, not to grant an injunction. This means that Elliott may fight on to win damages from ESI but he cannot stop the sale of the club to Thomas Sandgaard. Elliott may also now risk losing the case and having hefty damages awarded against him as well as being unable to recoup the money he claims to have invested in the club during the last few months. It will be fine entertainment for Charlton fans to watch Farnell and Elliott slug it out with Nimer and Southall, safe in the knowledge that it will no longer be at Charlton Athletic's expense and that the losers can only lose further.
It's a huge deal for Charlton Athletic and you have to believe a deal to sell the club to Thomas Sandgaard will be announced shortly. It was surprising that Sandgaard's name wasn't mentioned during the hearing and the judge was left to question if there was any risk of Charlton missing a prospective buyer as none was known to be waiting in the wings....
In any event, the decision has been made and I hope a deal is announced quickly before what might be an inevitable appeal from the desperate Elliot/Farnell.
Elliott/Farnell may also decide to drop their case now that they cannot leverage a pay-off from Sandgaard, but who cares. It's just great to see that, finally, these chancers have been stopped in their tracks. Taynoon Nimer was nowhere to be seen and the hapless Marian Mihail was left to represent Panorama Magic with support from Charlton fan and legal counsel, Lauren Kreamer.
One step at a time and all that, but there is also the tantalising hope that Thomas Sandgaard may have been able to unlock Duchatelet's hold over the Valley and Sparrows Lane, or at least have negotiated a much more secure lease arrangement.
Tomorrow could be another great day.
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