Runway work litigant must pay court fees
THE States has been awarded summary judgement for £24,350 for unpaid court fees against a man who failed to turn up for a hearing in the Interlocutory Court.
Ian Birnie, of Vue de l'Eglise, Rue de l'Eglise, Forest, had previously indicated he would mount a defence to the claim, but Deputy Bailiff Richard McMahon concluded that he did not have one.
The court was told that the bulk of the fees related to the case which Mr Birnie and his wife had brought against the States for problems caused by the southern works compound for the runway refurbishment project, which was situated in a field opposite their home.
Other matters included in the 12 invoices related to litigation between Mr Birnie and his wife, with Richard Lloyd and Jaime Sage-Lloyd, Guernsey Petroleum Distributors and a Court of Appeal application that was rejected because it was out of time.
Crown advocate Jason Hill said Mr Birnie had been notified of the hearing and he did not know why he had not turned up.
A document which Mr Birnie had put before the Ordinary Court on 28 August did not amount to a defence, said Advocate Hill.
'His only reason seems to be his dissatisfaction at the way that the courts dealt with the matters, but in my submission that does not amount to a defence,' he said.
This matter was completely separate to the costs one that the States was pursuing against the Birnies following the nuisance case involving their home, he said.
