Day 163 - 25 Sep 95 - Page 36
1 this stage of the case.
2
3 MR. JUSTICE BELL: As you have taken that stand, I will merely
4 say that I will grant leave further to amend the first
5 amendment in respect of Brazilian beef, so that the first
6 sentence reads: "Brazilian beef raised in regions causing
7 the displacement of farmers into Amazon forest areas has
8 been supplied to McDonald's in Brazil and to McDonald's UK
9 and to McDonald's or their suppliers in Argentina and
10 Switzerland".
11
12 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, yes.
13
14 MR. JUSTICE BELL: While it is on my mind, when we have got
15 through these amendments which are being sought, it would
16 be extremely helpful to me if someone could add the
17 required sheets to the abstract, so that I have got all the
18 particulars which are pleaded. Yes?
19
20 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, so as far as what I call the North
21 amendment is concerned, Food Poisoning, contrary to
22 whatever Mr. Morris may say, it is my belief that there is
23 no satisfactory evidence or indication of any such evidence
24 as the case presently stands upon which this proposed
25 amendment could be based or reasonably be based.
26 I will maintain that position until such time as I get a
27 further statement from Mr. North validating the
28 propositions advanced in this paragraph.
29
30 Further, whether your Lordship gives leave for this
31 amendment or not (and this is at my risk), I do not propose
32 to do anything whatsoever about this issue until I see a
33 further statement from Mr. North.
34
35 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What I suggest is that the question of -- in
36 fact, all the Store Hygiene is under Food Poisoning -- the
37 proposed amendment which Mr. Morris has put under the
38 heading "Food poisoning" be put over.
39
40 MR. RAMPTON: I am grateful to your Lordship.
41
42 MR. JUSTICE BELL: But we should come back to it if within, say,
43 two or three weeks there is nothing from Mr. North.
44
45 MR. RAMPTON: That is the only thing I was going to say. The
46 case is -- the gods of litigation being willing -- at last
47 coming to a point where one can see an end. We have dealt
48 with Food Poisoning literally ages ago. It is, I would
49 submit, the case where the Defendants, if I may use a rude
50 colloquialism, really must pull their finger out and get
51 something from Mr. North within the next two or three
52 weeks, otherwise it will be too late for once in a while.
53
54 My Lord, may I come to the other two things which do matter
55 a little bit more for this reason and, perhaps, really this
56 reason alone, that they do, if they are allowed, the Store
57 Hygiene and the Child Employment allegations, give rise to
58 certain very considerable implications of time and money,
59 My Lord, may on our part as ever.
60
