ECSC judges angry with attorney for former Canefield Urban Council Chairman Simeon Albert

​Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Judges who are now sitting in Dominica, expressed anger and disappointment, that a matter involving Mr Simeon Albert, a former chairman of the Canefield Urban Council, Maximea Powel, and council members Oscar and Michael Coipel, had to be adjourned to February 2017.
 
Albert had taken the three men to court, claiming they accused him of theft, and misappropriation of council funds; allegedly having given someone a project and paid him more than what the job cost, so that he could get the difference.
 
Reports are that the defendants failed to come up with a defence up to June 2, 2010, when the matter was brought before the court. Consequently, Albert’s legal team filed for, and obtained a judgment in default on June 2. The parties appealed the matter and it has since been before the court.
 
Zena Moore Dyer and Cara Shillingford appeared in court for the appellants this week, and told the court that they received papers from Albert and his attorney Lennox Lawrence, just months ago, and they needed more time to study them.
 
Justice of Appeal Louise Blenman, sitting as President of the court, said they had no choice but to grant the adjournment, but frowned on Attorney Lennox Lawrence for not serving the appellants on time.
 
The court, she said, spent monies and resources to have the Judges come to deal with the matter which she said was “straight forward”, and now the matter cannot proceed.
 
she said “I am not very happy to have this matter adjourned…this is unacceptable”.  Lawrence apologized to the court.