A company from Aranguez has sued the State over the Judiciary’s failure to clear its over $500,000 debt to it.
In the lawsuit, filed in June, lawyers representing Bricha Limited, of Mangra Trace, Aranguez, claimed that although it supplied a large quantity of special security mesh paper for use in the Judiciary’s probate department in 2016, it is yet to be paid.
The breach of contract case came up for virtual hearing before Justice Frank Seepersad yesterday morning. He granted an extension for the Office of the Attorney General to file a defence to the case by October 30.
Once the process is completed, Seepersad is expected to set a timeline for the case to be determined. According to the legal filings, obtained by Guardian Media, in May 2016, the Judiciary approached the company to supply the paper as it claimed that its previous supplier was no longer in business.
The company sent an invoice but was forced to withdraw and correct it the following day as it had recognised that the price quoted was in Pounds Sterling and not T&T dollars as required and also did not include air freight and storage costs.
The Judiciary accepted the change and the goods were imported and delivered without customs duties as the Judiciary is exempt.
“The Judiciary by its conduct freely accepted the security paper and has received the benefit of the goods up to this date herein without providing compensation for same,” the company’s lawyers said.
Through the lawsuit, the company is seeking the payment, interest for the period the debt was outstanding, and the legal costs it incurred in bringing the lawsuit.
The company is being represented by Krishna Sukdeo and Emily de Silva.