Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2015 15:42:48 GMT
www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Rovers-turned-1-5-million-offer-Sainsbury/story-27521827-detail/story.html
BRISTOL Rovers turned down an offer of £1.5million to settle its long running legal dispute with Sainsbury's - the supermarket has claimed.
The news that Rovers turned down three separate settlement offers during their legal fight with Sainsbury's came on the day the club was told it could appeal against a vital high court judgement. It has also emerged Rovers are now facing a crippling legal bill of at £375,000.
As reported in the Bristol Post Rovers and Sainsbury's have been locked in a legal dispute over a planned move to a brand new stadium in Frenchay.
Rovers are hoping to build a brand new stadium at the UWE campus and were hoping to sell the Memorial Ground in Horfield to the supermarket.
The club took its case to the High Court but the judge ruled against the club leaving its plans in tatters.
Earlier today Rovers were given leave to appeal against the ruling when the judge, who initially ruled in favour of the supermarket chain, agreed to allow an appeal after the club's barristers outlined the reasoning behind the application.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We note that Bristol Rovers have been granted permission to appeal.
"We understand it is a sensitive issue but are confident that the Court of Appeal will uphold the High Court's judgment that the conditional contract lawfully ended in November 2014.
"We will continue to work with the local community through our existing Bristol stores which are extremely popular with customers."
Sainsbury's went on to reveal details of the negotiations between the club and the supermarket.
According to the supermarket:
The Judge ordered the club to pay £375,000 in interim costs within six weeks.
The Judge also said that Bristol Rovers should have accepted a settlement offer from Sainsbury's of £1.5 million.
Bristol Rovers and Sainsbury's entered into a mediation session in April which was presided over by an independent judge.
The supermarket claimed it had a strong case but knew it was a sensitive issue for the club and offered a fair amount to settle the case.
The supermarket made two further offers to settle in May - the final offer being £1.5m - which were refused. Bristol Rovers demanded sums more than ten times what we finally offered. The dispute reached trial in the High Court in May.
The Judge ruled in Sainsbury's favour in July agreeing that the conditional contract between the supermarket and Bristol Rovers lawfully terminated in November 2014.
The judge made no findings of Sainsbury's acting in bad faith with the club.
A spokesman for Bristol Rovers said: "After digesting the initial judgment in full, the club's lawyers felt the majority of the points which Mrs Justice Proudman was asked to consider, went in favour of the club.
"It is this insight, and the ambiguity of the initial judgment statement, that has convinced us we have a positive case going forward.
"The club will now seek to have the hearing expedited in the hope it will be held in late November or early December this year.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to say we appreciate the support and encouragement we continue to receive from fans during this testing time."
Read more: www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Rovers-turned-1-5-million-offer-Sainsbury/story-27521827-detail/story.html#ixzz3hU5DDkCC
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BRISTOL Rovers turned down an offer of £1.5million to settle its long running legal dispute with Sainsbury's - the supermarket has claimed.
The news that Rovers turned down three separate settlement offers during their legal fight with Sainsbury's came on the day the club was told it could appeal against a vital high court judgement. It has also emerged Rovers are now facing a crippling legal bill of at £375,000.
As reported in the Bristol Post Rovers and Sainsbury's have been locked in a legal dispute over a planned move to a brand new stadium in Frenchay.
Rovers are hoping to build a brand new stadium at the UWE campus and were hoping to sell the Memorial Ground in Horfield to the supermarket.
The club took its case to the High Court but the judge ruled against the club leaving its plans in tatters.
Earlier today Rovers were given leave to appeal against the ruling when the judge, who initially ruled in favour of the supermarket chain, agreed to allow an appeal after the club's barristers outlined the reasoning behind the application.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We note that Bristol Rovers have been granted permission to appeal.
"We understand it is a sensitive issue but are confident that the Court of Appeal will uphold the High Court's judgment that the conditional contract lawfully ended in November 2014.
"We will continue to work with the local community through our existing Bristol stores which are extremely popular with customers."
Sainsbury's went on to reveal details of the negotiations between the club and the supermarket.
According to the supermarket:
The Judge ordered the club to pay £375,000 in interim costs within six weeks.
The Judge also said that Bristol Rovers should have accepted a settlement offer from Sainsbury's of £1.5 million.
Bristol Rovers and Sainsbury's entered into a mediation session in April which was presided over by an independent judge.
The supermarket claimed it had a strong case but knew it was a sensitive issue for the club and offered a fair amount to settle the case.
The supermarket made two further offers to settle in May - the final offer being £1.5m - which were refused. Bristol Rovers demanded sums more than ten times what we finally offered. The dispute reached trial in the High Court in May.
The Judge ruled in Sainsbury's favour in July agreeing that the conditional contract between the supermarket and Bristol Rovers lawfully terminated in November 2014.
The judge made no findings of Sainsbury's acting in bad faith with the club.
A spokesman for Bristol Rovers said: "After digesting the initial judgment in full, the club's lawyers felt the majority of the points which Mrs Justice Proudman was asked to consider, went in favour of the club.
"It is this insight, and the ambiguity of the initial judgment statement, that has convinced us we have a positive case going forward.
"The club will now seek to have the hearing expedited in the hope it will be held in late November or early December this year.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to say we appreciate the support and encouragement we continue to receive from fans during this testing time."
Read more: www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Rovers-turned-1-5-million-offer-Sainsbury/story-27521827-detail/story.html#ixzz3hU5DDkCC
Follow us: @bristolpost on Twitter | bristolpost on Facebook