U.S oil investor, Jack Grynberg has scored a major victory in his battle to get a controversial video-tape allegedly depicting the Grenada Prime Minister, Keith Mitchell accepting a bribe payment in Switzerland in June 2000.
A judge in the United States has dismissed a legal challenge made to Grynberg's effort by lawyers acting for the Caribbean island's Deputy Prime Minister, Gregory Bowen.
Attorney-at-law, Charles Johnson last week Wednesday travelled to Boston, Massachussets where Resteiner is incarcerated in an effort to influence him not to co-operate with the proceedings.
In a ruling handed down in Grynberg's favour, the Presiding officer dismissed the application.
"Defendant's (Gregory Bowen) application for the court to withdraw the authority it granted to plaintiffs (Jack Grynberg) to subpoena Mr. Resteiner.... is denied", said the judge.
The ruling effectively paves the way for Grynberg to proceed with his court order that compels Restiener to hand over the Keith Mitchell Briefcase video tape to him.
Meanwhile, Minister Bowen has got a reprieve from the court in the U.S hearing a separate bribery charge filed against him in New York by Grynberg in connection with a 1996 oil and gas agreement.
Grynberg had earlier filed a motion before the court to seek a default judgement against the Number Two man in the Mitchell government in St. George's.
However, the judge has given Bowen until the end of April to respond to the claim being made against him by Grynberg.
GRENADA TODAY was able to obtain the ruling that was handed down on the matter by female New York city judge, Denise Cote:
DENISE COTE, District Judge:
On April 6, 2007, counsel for the plaintiff (Jack Grynberg) and defendants Gregory Bowen and Len Blavatnik met before this Court regarding plaintiff's request for an entry of a default judgment against Bowen.
For the reasons stated on the record, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion for entry of a default judgment against Bowen is denied.
It is further ordered that defendant Bowen must respond to the complaint or move to dismiss the action against him no later than April 30.
Plaintiff must submit any opposition by May 25. Defendant Bowen must reply by June 8.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff shall serve the proposed deponent on the issue of this Court's personal jurisdiction over Bowen with a notice for his deposition by April 20. Any opposition by the deponent or any defendant is due on May 11. Plaintiff's reply is due on May 18.
At the time any motion is fully submitted, the moving party shall supply two courtesy copies to Chambers.
SO ORDERED:
Dated: New York, New York
April 9, 2007
