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I am at court 26 of the Rolls Building to witness the handing down of the Horizon trial judgment. I wasn’t going to live tweet this, but it is bedlam. I have never seen the court so busy. Five journalists and possibly 60 claimants plus families.
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
There is standing room only. Both legal teams are here including Patrick Green QC for the claimants and Owain Draper for the Post Office. Only a small number of people in this room know what is in the judgment.
Bear in mind most people made their plans before last Wednesday’s settlement. So there is a strange mood here. Part celebratory - the claimants, after all - won. Part curious - what will the judge say…? And...
Lord Coulson rejects Post Office application to appeal first trial judgment. Reasons: postofficetrial.com/2019/11/lord-c…
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
Comment to follow later.
First, some snippets:
"Many of the PO’s difficulties now are self-inflicted. For example, as happened during the trial and on the application for permission to appeal both to the judge, and to this court, the PO has consistently put its arguments much too high...
"Many of the PO’s difficulties now are self-inflicted. For example, as happened during the trial and on the application for permission to appeal both to the judge, and to this court, the PO has consistently put its arguments much too high...
Welcome to Court 63 of the RCJ where Lord Justice Coulson will be hearing the Post Office’s application to appeal the first trial judgment in Bates v Post Office a multimillion pound legal battle detailed here: postofficetrial.com
#postofficetrial
Live tweets follow...
#postofficetrial
Live tweets follow...
… this is a very different building to the Rolls Building where the main litigation is being heard. A proper imposing neo-Gothic palace. Finding court 63, as you can imagine, was an adventure. I bumped into one of the litigation lawyer on the way in and we agreed that...
… this was a proper intimidating piles - exactly the sort of place to administer serious matters of law. Much better than the Rolls Building. But by the time we’d been upstairs, along a corridor through the Bear Garden (disappointing lack of bears) to the East Block...
Good morning everyone from Court 30 of the High Court’s Rolls Building in London. We are here for a Bates v Post Office costs hearing. I recently calculated the combined costs for this litigation must have gone past £40m.
We might find out how close I am shortly.
#postofficetrial
We might find out how close I am shortly.
#postofficetrial
If you want to know how I got to £40+m:
The Post Office has admitted spending £23m on legal fees to end March 2019 (including paying out £6m worth of costs to the claimants)….
The Post Office has admitted spending £23m on legal fees to end March 2019 (including paying out £6m worth of costs to the claimants)….
… Assuming costs on both sides are roughly the same and guesstimating that both parties have spent another £5m each already this financial year (reasonable), that's c. £22m spent by the Post Office and...
Today is the 22nd and final day of the Horizon trial, second trial of the Bates v Post Office group litigation at the High Court. Anthony de Garr Robinson QC (left) for the Post Office arriving this morning. He will be making the PO's closing submissions for five hours today.
I'll be tweeting from Court 26 from 10.30am and posting up sections of the Post Office's written closing (if I get it) as the day progresses. Follow this thread for all the "action". A write-up of yesterday's closing submissions for the claimants is here: postofficetrial.com/2019/07/horizo…
There are lots of interested observers in court today - @Karlfl from @ComputerWeekly (who wrote this yesterday) computerweekly.com/news/252466111…
Welcome to Court 26 of the High Court’s Rolls Building for Day 21 of the Horizon trial, second trial in the Bates and others v Post Office group litigation. This man will be on his feet all day putting the claimants’ closing argument. Patrick Green QC.
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
Throughout these live tweets I am paraphrasing and describing what is being said and what is happening in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes”.
We are underway.
Please hashtag any comments #postofficetrial
We are underway.
Please hashtag any comments #postofficetrial
Patrick Green QC (PG)
"On analysis the way the Post Office has sought to adduce its own evidence is a one way ratchet"
"On analysis the way the Post Office has sought to adduce its own evidence is a one way ratchet"
We are back in court 26 for day 20 of the Horizon trial. Final day of cross-examination for the Post Office’s independent IT expert Dr Robert Worden (pictured). Live tweets to follow. The hashtag is #postofficetrial - more info at postofficetrial.com
Dr Worden is being cross-examined by Patrick Green QC for the claimants. Sir Peter Fraser is the managing judge. For more info on this long-running (and insanely expensive) litigation, see postofficetrial.com
Usual disclaimer: I am paraphrasing and describing what is happening/being said in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless in “direct quotes”.
We are back in court 26 for Day 19 of the Horizon trial. Claimants’ barristers arriving at the Rolls Building this morning. Patrick Green QC (left) putting the questions to IT expert for the Post Office, Dr Worden. Live tweets to follow.
Usual disclaimer: I am paraphrasing and summarising what is being said and happening in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes”.
If you know nothing about this litigation, you can find everything you need at postofficetrial.com
The hashtag is #postofficetrial
The hashtag is #postofficetrial
Morning. We are in court 26 of the High Court’s Rolls Building for Day 18 of the Horizon trial, part of the Bates v Post Office group litigation. Follow here for live tweets…
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
Dr Robert Worden, the Post Office’s independent IT expert has been sworn in. His surname is pronounced as in “word”.
The word “word”, not as in “bored”…
anyway…. usual disclaimer…
These tweets are summaries and descriptions of what is being going on and being said in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless in “direct quotes”.
anyway…. usual disclaimer…
These tweets are summaries and descriptions of what is being going on and being said in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless in “direct quotes”.
Morning. Day 17 of the Horizon trial, part of the Bates v Post Office litigation (more info: postofficetrial.com). Last day of cross-examination for expert IT witness Jason Coyne, pictured arriving with a member of Freeths, the claimants’ legal team. Live tweets follow.
Judge starts by handing down judgment number 5 - reasons for decision on awarding costs to claimants re Common Issues trial and refusal to give permission to Post Office to appeal CI judgment.
I have a paper copy and will get an email copy later. I’ll post it up at lunchtime.
I have a paper copy and will get an email copy later. I’ll post it up at lunchtime.
Just my regular warning that what I am tweeting is a description and/or summary of what is happening and being said in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes”.
Morning. We are in Court 26 of the High Court’s Rolls Building for Day 16 of the Horizon trial, part of the Bates v Post Office group litigation. Live tweets to follow. Pictured is Ron Warmington, MD of Second Sight which investigated Horizon for the Post Office.
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
Jason Coyne (JC), independent IT expert for the claimant Subpostmasters is being cross-examined by Anthony de Garr Robinson (DG), QC for the Post Office. This is his third day of evidence. Day 1 report: postofficetrial.com/2019/06/anthon…
Day 2: postofficetrial.com/2019/06/horizo…
Day 2: postofficetrial.com/2019/06/horizo…
You can also read the transcripts from the last two days and read Mr Coyne’s two expert reports at postofficetrial.com
Good morning. We are in court 26 of the High Court’s Rolls Building for the continuation of the Horizon trial, the second trial of the Bates and others v Post Office class action. Live tweet thread to follow. Here are the Post Office barristers arriving for work.
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
For background to this trial/class action please take a look at postofficetrial.com
Please note everything I tweet is a summary or description of what is happening/being said. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes"
Please note everything I tweet is a summary or description of what is happening/being said. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes"
The judge is sitting and going through some admin. He says he is hoping to hand down what will be judgment no. 5 by the end of the day. It relates to his refusal to allow the Post Office to appeal the Common Issues trial judgment.
Okay here we go. Refusal by the Court of Appeal to allow an appeal by the Post Office to get Justice Fraser kicked off the group litigation Bates and others v Post Office, known on twitter as #postofficetrial Thread.
"permission to appeal against Judgment 4 [the recusal judgment] is refused. I set out the reasons for that conclusion in greater detail than usual only because of the volume and nature of the criticisms which have been made...
… , and the importance of the group litigation to both parties. I do not do so because of the merits of the application itself, which in my view is without substance.”
Ouch.
This decision is made by Lord Justice Coulson, btw...
Ouch.
This decision is made by Lord Justice Coulson, btw...
Good morning. We are in a packed (busiest I’ve seen it) court 26 for the recusal hearing. The Post Office wants the judge removed from Bates v Post Office litigation. There was a CWU demo outside court. It’s all going off. Follow this thread for live tweets.
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
Seema Misra is in court with Jo Hamilton. Seema was sent to prison whilst pregnant in 2010. She is a former Subpostmaster at West Byfleet. Jo has a conviction for false accounting from her time as Subpostmaster at South Warnborough.
Lord Grabiner is on his feet...
Lord Grabiner is on his feet...
“We invite your Lordship to recuse yourself from this litigation”
LG also wants the Horizon trial to be stayed
LG has confirmed PO WILL appeal the Common Issues trial.
LG also wants the Horizon trial to be stayed
LG has confirmed PO WILL appeal the Common Issues trial.
This is possibly the most disingenuous piece of self-serving bullshit I have ever read:
nfsp.org.uk/write/MediaUpl…
#postofficetrial
nfsp.org.uk/write/MediaUpl…
#postofficetrial
Let’s remind ourselves what a High Court judge said about @NFSP_UK, shall we?
"It is obvious, in my judgment, that the NFSP is not remotely independent of the Post Office, nor does it appear to put its members’ interests above its own separate commercial interests….”
2/
"It is obvious, in my judgment, that the NFSP is not remotely independent of the Post Office, nor does it appear to put its members’ interests above its own separate commercial interests….”
2/
@NFSP_UK “… I do not consider that the NFSP can in these circumstances properly be considered to be independent, or to be acting in the interests of SPMs [Subpostmasters]…”
3/
3/
Here’s the @PostOffice's take on their attempt to boot the judge off the litigation:
"We have reflected in great depth on the proceedings and detailed judgment from the first trial and will continue to consider all options….
"We have reflected in great depth on the proceedings and detailed judgment from the first trial and will continue to consider all options….
“… As part of this, we have made an application today for the sitting Judge to be recused from the ongoing and upcoming trials. We are acutely aware of the significance of this application...
“… We will continue with our programme to improve the way we work with postmasters and are urgently considering how we can accelerate this work and address the criticisms about our operations raised in the judgment. We recognise that we must always continue to do better...
Good morning from court 26 of the High Court’s Rolls Building for Day 7 of the Horizon trial, part of the Bates v Post Office group litigation. Mr Godeseth from Fujitsu is being cross-examined in the witness box.
Just a reminder - everything I tweet is a summary and paraphrases what is happening in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes"
Torstein Godeseth (TG) is the Horizon Chief Architect at Fujitsu. He is being cross-examined by Patrick Green QC (PG) for the claimants. They are discussing changing things in Horizon’s message store.
We’re back for the afternoon session of Day 7 of the Horizon trial - part of the Bates v Post Office litigation.
#postofficetrial
Mr Godeseth from Fujitsu continues to being cross-examined.
#postofficetrial
Mr Godeseth from Fujitsu continues to being cross-examined.
Follow this thread for live tweets from court.
Anything tweeted is a summary and paraphrase of what is happening in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes"
Anything tweeted is a summary and paraphrase of what is happening in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes"
Patrick Green QC (PG) for the claimants is cross-examining Torstein Godeseth (TG)
they are discussing the early days of Horizon. It was a difficult birth back in the late 90s. DSS and Post Office were clients. DSS pulled out.
they are discussing the early days of Horizon. It was a difficult birth back in the late 90s. DSS and Post Office were clients. DSS pulled out.
Morning. We are in court 26 of the High Court’s Rolls Building for Day 7 of the Horizon trial - part of the Bates v Post Office group litigation. Third day of Post Office witness cross-examination. Follow this thread for live tweets.
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
*cracks knuckles*
Judge (Mr Justice Fraser) is sitting we are into housekeeping before the witnesses are called.
Judge (Mr Justice Fraser) is sitting we are into housekeeping before the witnesses are called.
Please remember these tweets paraphrase and are summaries of what is happening in court. Nothing is a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes”…
discussing the possibility of a day’s sitting next week to do some mopping up...
discussing the possibility of a day’s sitting next week to do some mopping up...
Mini-thread: re my earlier comments about Angela van den Bogerd being the first senior @PostOffice manager to acknowledge the Helpline is known by Subpostmasters as the hell-line, I’ve had a look at the transcripts for the first trial (fully searchable on postofficetrial.com)
@PostOffice In the common issues trial the helpline being known as the hell-line was raised twice. Once with Nick Beal, a senior @PostOffice manager whose evidence was so unreliable the judge said he would only accept anything he said if back ed up by...
@PostOffice …. uncontrovertible documentary evidence. There was an exchange about the hell-line thus:
Q. The reference to the "Hell-line", which we saw over the page -- let's not beat about the bush, Mr Beal, that is how the NFSP saw the Helpline provided by Post Office, isn't it?
Q. The reference to the "Hell-line", which we saw over the page -- let's not beat about the bush, Mr Beal, that is how the NFSP saw the Helpline provided by Post Office, isn't it?
We are at the High Court’s Rolls Building for Day 6 of the Horizon trial, part of the Bates v Post Office group litigation. @PostOffice director Angela van den Bogerd continuing to give evidence. In the last trial she was found to have misled the court.
#postofficetrial
#postofficetrial
@PostOffice Follow this thread for live tweets from court. Please note EVERYTHING I write is a paraphrase or summary of what happens in court. It is not a direct quote unless it is in “direct quotes”.
Short preamble before AB’s evidence continues re redaction of documents. @PostOffice are trying to withhold from the judge on grounds of confidentiality privilege and relevance. Judge implying he will decide what is relevant and if PO holds out on that factor he will take a view.
Angela van den Bogerd, @PostOffice Director, who was found to have misled a judge in court under oath during the Common Issues trial arriving this morning to be cross-examined in the Horizon #postofficetrial. Follow this thread for live tweets of her evidence.
@PostOffice Mrs Angela van den Bogerd (AB) has started being cross-examined by Patrick Green QC (PG) for the claimants. Here we go.
PG You say you aim to give a balanced view. Did you aim to do that in November?
AB yes
PG and did you?
AB broadly yes
AB yes
PG and did you?
AB broadly yes
We are back in the High Court Rolls Building court 26 for the afternoon session of Day 4 of the Horizon trial - second trial in Bates and others v Post Office.
Richard Roll is still on the stand we are talking about remote access. Mr Roll is telling the court how they would access a computer’s info to fix it.
POQC you would never and never manually changed a line of transaction data
RR we did when we changed a line of code, but we’d never change £10 to £100
POQC there is no way anyone at Fujitsu would change any transaction data
RR that’s not my recollection - we could do it and did
RR we did when we changed a line of code, but we’d never change £10 to £100
POQC there is no way anyone at Fujitsu would change any transaction data
RR that’s not my recollection - we could do it and did
Okay back in court 26 of the High Court’s Rolls Building for the final day of claimant witness cross-examination in the Horizon trial, part of the Bates and others v Post Office group litigation.
Follow this thread for live tweets.
Follow this thread for live tweets.
I spent this morning updating the Horizon trial menu to ensure everything that happened yesterday is in the same place including my write-up, the transcript, witness statements and bonus material.
postofficetrial.com/2019/03/horizo…
#postofficetrial
postofficetrial.com/2019/03/horizo…
#postofficetrial
Okay court is sitting. Richard Roll - former Fujitsu Horizon third tier support employee is in continuing his evidence in the box. This is he outside court yesterday.
