Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
KINGSTON BUSINESSMAN Donald Panton is going to the Court of Appeal today to apply for an order to halt the $2 billion lawsuit against him.
Mr. Panton, wife Janet and son Jeffrey are defendants in the suit which the Government-owned Financial Institutions Services Ltd. has brought against them.
The Pantons and other defendants were sued in 1995 for unpaid loans arising from the collapse of the Blaise financial entities. The Minister of Finance took over the financial entities in 1994
ADJOURNMENT REFUSED
Attorney-at-law Abe Dabdoub had applied on Monday for an adjournment. Justice Donald McIntosh refused, and the hearing continued in the Supreme Court.
Mr. Panton said in his affidavit, which was filed yesterday, that on Monday Mr. Dabdoub also applied for an order to vary the Mareva injunction freezing their assets so they could dispose of assets to pay legal fees.
He said on January 27 the Court of Appeal overturned a Supreme Court order which had turned down an application from the law firm Chancellor and Co. from removing its name from the record as their attorneys-at-law.
He said on January 30 Mr. Dabdoub appeared as a friend of the court seeking an adjournment so they could seek legal representation. Mr. Dabdoub was retained by him on February 2 and the application was being made on Monday to allow them sufficient time to instruct counsel.
STOPPED FROM LEAVING COURT
On Monday, Mr. Dabdoub told the court that he was unable to represent the defendants in a professional manner. Mr. Panton said he was leaving the courtroom, but the judge said he could not leave.
He said further that Mr. Dabdoub said the judge could not force them to stay, but the judge said he could not stop the Pantons from leaving, but they could be cited for contempt of court.
Mr. Panton said that when Mr Dabdoub was leaving, the judge said Mr. Dabdoub could be cited for contempt. Mr. Dabdoub replied that he was prepared to take the risk because he was not in a position to adequately represent the Pantons.
Mr. Panton said that as Mr. Dabdoub was walking out, the judge said, "You think this is Parliament." He said Mr. Dabdoub went back into counsel's Bench and told the judge that the remark was unworthy of one who sits on the Bench.
