Day 149 - 06 Jul 95 - Page 08


     
     1        It will not make one jot of difference to what goes on
     2        outside this court.  It is only going to affect what goes
     3        on inside this court.  I would ask that the Plaintiffs
     4        reconsider their initial response because, otherwise, the
     5        proceedings are likely to go slower when we have to take
     6        full notes in order to be able to cross-examine a witness
     7        the following day or the day after.  It will end up costing
     8        the Plaintiffs more if the proceedings go slower, as well.
     9        So it is actually in their own interests to agree to let us
    10        have the transcripts earlier.
    11
    12   MR. RAMPTON:  We do not need Ms. Steel to tell us what is in our
    13        interests.  The solution to this problem, this difficulty
    14        which the Defendants face, lies within their own hands.
    15        They have only to give undertaking for which we have asked
    16        and, hey presto, the transcripts will be theirs on a daily
    17        basis.
    18
    19   MS. STEEL:  As we said the other day, we are not prepared to be
    20        effectively censored by McDonald's, trying to stop us from
    21        talking to anybody about what is going on in these
    22        proceedings.  They are public proceedings.  The public have
    23        a right to know what is going on; and that includes the
    24        public who are not here.  We are not interested in putting
    25        out disinformation, but people are entitled to know what is
    26        going on; and, if we are asked, we have every right to say
    27        so.
    28
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I am not going to have any further comment.
    30        It is not a matter for me to comment on, save to say this:
    31        if anything I said a few moments ago about my understanding
    32        of the basis of the arrangement is actually wrong, then it
    33        would be as well to correct it, since I have said it in
    34        open court.
    35
    36   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, we will find out.
    37
    38   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  So I think it should be checked what the
    39        basis is.  But, as far as I am concerned, this is a dispute
    40        between the parties which it is not appropriate for me to
    41        decide, arbitrate on, or offer any view upon.
    42
    43        All I will say is that if a time comes when, however it is
    44        organised, the Defendants come to have copies of
    45        transcripts of any day of the hearing which I have not so
    46        far got, and I am thereafter offered a copy of the
    47        transcript, I will accept it.  But I do not propose to ask
    48        for it, and I do not propose to say anything more about it
    49        unless I am asked to do so.
    50 
    51   MR. RAMPTON:  No, my Lord.  Such use as we may make of 
    52        transcripts also in open court, for example in 
    53        cross-examination -- although I think I have been sparing
    54        in my use of the transcripts for that purpose -- obviously,
    55        we would supply a copy of the relevant page or pages to
    56        your Lordship and to the Defendants; but nothing beyond
    57        that.
    58
    59   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  The other thing is this:  I think you will be
    60        surprised at how well you can get along with a note.

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