$25M e-gaming lawsuit against P.E.I. government in court
Capital Markets Technologies claims province didn't act in good faith
Capital Markets Technologies (CMT) is making a number of claims including that it was involved in discussions on e-gaming with the P.E.I. government and that government didn't act in good faith regarding a memorandum of understanding to develop a financial services centre.
- P.E.I. e-gaming controversy
- E-gaming initiative defence filings deny claims
- Allegations in $25M e-gaming lawsuit denied by P.E.I. government
Much of Monday's discussions in court dealt with how much the case might eventually cost in legal bills.
Lawyers representing the government estimate their costs will be $1.2 million. Adding two other defendants named in the suit, P.E.I. businessmen Paul Jenkins and Garth Jenkins,the total estimate to defend the case is about $3 million.
The defendants all asked Justice Gordon Campbell to order CMT to make a security deposit in the event the case goes to trial. They argue if CMT loses and has to pay costs, there should be money set aside to cover it.
CMT estimates its costs as plaintiffs will be about $100,000.
Campbell has to sort through these very different estimates and decide how large a security deposit CMT has to make, if any, before the case moves forward.
Later in the day Monday, defence lawyers critiqued CMT's statement of claim, contending it contravenes a number of rules and is long, rambling, and, at times, irrelevant. They argued that a number of paragraphs that begin with "Sheridan lied..." — referring to former finance minister Wes Sheridan — represent opinion, not fact.
A lawyer representing Paul Jenkins requested the entire claim be struck.
Campbell has six months to issue a ruling on Monday's motions. But some lawyers in the case suggested a ruling could be available early in the new year.
CMT's lawyer argued his client's case is very complex, and asked Campbell for latitude to prove the allegations.