TECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION COURT
Fetter Lane London, EC4A 1NL |
||
B e f o r e :
____________________
ICCT LIMITED |
Claimant |
|
- and - |
||
SYLVEIN PINTO |
Defendant |
THE DEFENDANT appeared in Person.
____________________
Crown Copyright ©
MR JUSTICE WAKSMAN:
"Hi Tony, we are just preparing our referral and will be submitting it within the next seven days."
"The ICCT documents of 31 May served in this matter are now with your good self and me as the adjudicator. My task is to decide the issue. Do you have anything more to say? If I don't hear from you today, I will press on with the information and issue the decision."
"I'm unhappy you're known to or friends with Seamus Carr and Angela Jahr... [and then] ...a psychiatrist will say that however much they try to be impartial, there can be effectively unconscious bias."
"Please help me with your point number 1. I have no knowledge of Seamus Carr, nor Angela Jahr, nor anyone connected to them or their company. Please explain."
"I thought you knew them because they address you as Tony. I've been involved in court cases and tax tribunals over the years on behalf of clients. I've never addressed any judge or court official with their first name. So if you do not know them, please ignore point number 1."
That is what he said about that.
"Thank you, Mr Pinto. A simple misunderstanding. Addressing me by my first name gave you the wrong impression. There is no connection in any form with the referring party, or their people, and the adjudicator."
From the other material which I have recited today, I am quite sure that is, indeed, the case.
"Mr Pinto became conscious about the number of days it was all taking. He soon decided that the men and the ICCT were disreputable and stopped them attending."
"Yes, it was an oral contract. It was a day work contract and there was no cap on it."
"Mr Pinto began to realise the repair works were extensive. The clock was ticking. Mr Pinto said from day two onwards that it became apparent they did not have a clue what they were doing. The adjudicator observes if that was the case, there would be likely evidence of Mr Pinto complaining to Mr Carr. He had made up his mind. I honestly did not think it would take more than a day for the two of them and he convinced himself he was being taken for a ride, but there is simply not enough evidence to support that position."
"It was unsurprising that the piecemeal works of ICCT had come to less than a quarter of that sum. In short, a great deal of work is or was required to the basement. No basement waterproofing can be done on the cheap, hardly can this be done in a few days. Dampcoursing Limited proves the point."
Then he referred to Mr Pinto saying:
"We honestly believed sealing the leaks was only one day's work for two people."
"He was sufficiently knowledgeable but he hung on. He allowed the works to continue. This election, together with Mr Pinto's own ability to appreciate what happened, does not convince the adjudicator that the ICCT's operatives were as bad as being made out. Mr Pinto took the position of dispensing with their services. That is the sum that is claim. There is insufficient evidence to show anything less."
Then, "Does the counterclaim succeed?":
"No, because ICCT had promised a repair but it was prevented from completing the work by Mr Pinto."
"This wasn't the email I was expecting. I understand you raised the question with the adjudicator originally and he informed you he had never had any dealings with anyone from ICCT Limited. That is correct. I never met or spoke to him. All my communications were by email. However, he came highly recommended."
"We cannot go on with day work and either we call it a day or you give me a fixed quote."
So, from that point of view, it was a termination and it is a day work basis, which was the contractual way in which this operation had been agreed.
Transcribed by Opus 2 International Limited Official Court Reporters and Audio Transcribers 5 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3BF Tel: 020 7831 5627 Fax: 020 7831 7737 |