Desmond's Legal Uppercut: UKGC's Major Oops
UK Court Grants Access to Misplaced Documents Belonging to Former Porn Magnate, Originally Held by UK Gambling Commission
In a juicy turn of events, infamous media mogul Richard Desmond is one step closer to sticks it to the UK National Lottery, courtesy of an epic blunder by the Gambling Commission. Desmond's company, Northern & Shell, is currently locked in a £200m ($265m) legal duke-out against the National Lottery, claiming the selection process for the National Lottery contract was bogus and demanding compensation.
The game-changer? An "unprecedented blunder" by the UKGC and its law firm, Hogan Lovells, who leaked over 4,000 confidential documents to the opposition.
On Tuesday, Judge Nerys Jefford gave Desmond's crew the green light to use these slips-ups in court, including internal presentations, emails, draft reports, and other nifty info that can't normally be accessed.
According to the Financial Times, Sa'ad Hossain KC, Northern & Shell's attorney, called the mix-up "unprecedented" and a "bombshell." Hogan Lovells is accused of sending these docs, containing privileged material, to Desmond's team.
While many of the docs may be used in court, Judge Jefford has held back docs with clear legal advice or obvious privileged content. However, over 4,000 docs that don't contain any legal advice have been given the thumbs-up for use.
Hogan Lovells and the UKGC both declined to comment, while the UKGC stated it had "nothing further to add" regarding the disclosure hearing in the High Court. Desmond's legal war with the UKGC is expected to go down swing later this year.
Recently, Northern & Shell dragged high-profile UK bank Rothschild into the fray, alleging Rothschild had a prior conflict of interest with Allwyn, the firm that won the National Lottery contract.
This leak has given Desmond's case an extra boost, potentially providing a glimpse into unlawful shenanigans or procedural mistakes made by the UKGC during the lottery tendering process. Northern & Shell showed no interest in a reported £10 million settlement offer, preferring to take it to trial.
The Gambling Commission is worried any financial payout could munch into funds used for charitable and community projects from the National Lottery. The ongoing legal squabble has also delayed the transfer of the National Lottery license from Camelot to Allwyn.
So, Desmond's lawsuit becomes stronger by the minute, as he piece by piece gets his hands on the internal communications that might show the UKGC's dirty laundry. Stay tuned for the main event later this year.
- Desmond's legal team, led by Sa'ad Hossain KC, has been granted permission by Judge Nerys Jefford to use over 4,000 leaked documents in their £200m litigation against the UK National Lottery and the UKGC.
- The leaked documents, which include internal presentations, emails, draft reports, and other information, have been described as "unprecedented" and a "bombshell" by Northern & Shell's attorney.
- Hogan Lovells, the UKGC's law firm, is accused of inadvertently sending these confidential documents to Desmond's team.
- While some documents containing legal advice or privileged content have been withheld, a substantial number of documents without such content have been approved for use in court.
