Exclusive to politics.ie 500 million compo payout pending.

[untouchable]

The illustrious legal firm of McMahon O'brien Downes,36 Pembroke Road Ballsbridge represented many claimants in the "deaf soldiers" class action against the state,almost a decade ago,which resulted in the taxpayers of the nation presenting 300 million Euros to a few thousand members of the defence forces.This have are in the final stages of preparing a similiar class action/law suit against the Minister for the Environment and Local
Government,Ireland, The Attorney General,and Dublin City Council on behalf of 5000 taxi drivers who lost substantial assets when the taxi industry was re-regulated by the government in November 2000.
They have spent 6 years studying the debacle and assembled an impressive catalogue of documentation to argue in the High Court that the manner in which the industrywas regulated for many years was "unsatisfactory" and contrary to the principles of competition law.They will argue that had the current regulatory regime-which is notanti-competitive- been in existance at all stages,then individuals who were members of the industry prior to "re-regulation" would most likely not have suffered any financial loss ,after the new regulatory regime was introduced in November 2000.
This will be an interesting case for Michael McDowell to handle,as it was his partner Mary hearney who forced through the necessary re-regulation,despite the fact that Fianna Fail totally opposed the move,due to the cosy group voting "arrangement" which had been brokered on Bertie Ahern's behalf,by his "special envoy " to the Irish Taxi Federation
the one and only, Ivor Callely ! The appearance of these notable characters alongside John Usher boss of the taxi Federation.in the witness box during the high court proceedings may well elicit sufficient information on the whole saga to expedite speedy compensation payment to all those who had anticipated.on retirement, a "pension" from renting their licences in much the same way as publicans and farmers currently rent drinking and milking licences.!
If the test cases coming before the courts in the new year are successful, the payout-based on the trading price of a Dublin taxi licence before re-regulation- will certainly exceed 400 million Euros and could come in nearer to 600 million countrywide. The bloodthirsty legal eagles will pocket about 20% of this amount in fees and outgoings. Not bad for a sequel to the box office record breaking "Deaf Soldiers" blockbuster.Then again as Fianna Fail are so practiced at compensating,hepatitis victims, the deaf ,the institutionally abused, the elderly (both living and the dead) that the next payout coming close to election day will hardly cause as much as a ripple in Leinster House or amongt the long suffering taxpayers of Ireland .
http://www.soldiersofdestiny.org/compen ... aximen.htm

[Pidge]

But this isn't exclusive at all! We've been duped!

[untouchable]

Not really Pidge,although 5000 taxidrivers have been notified in recent days.I have not seen any media reports on the matter but I could be wrong-have you?

[Pidge]

Not really Pidge,although 5000 taxidrivers have been notified in recent days.I have not seen any media reports on the matter but I could be wrong-have you?

I have! It's been mentioned previously on www.soldiersofdestiny.org!

[Catalpa]

Do not the people who paid serious money for Taxi plates not have a case in asking to be compensated for the subsequent loss of these valuable assets they invested in?

[untouchable]

Do not the people who paid serious money for Taxi plates not have a case in asking to be compensated for the subsequent loss of these valuable assets they invested in?

A company of solicitors(abovementioned) have staked a small fortune on that possibility..Catalpa 8)

[cyberianpan]

Do not the people who paid serious money for Taxi plates not have a case in asking to be compensated for the subsequent loss of these valuable assets they invested in?

These plates were never meant to be resaleable, there was not intention to create a secondary market. Caveat emptor. The only people that ever profited out of the market were taxi drivers & speculators - it was a completely false market (the money did nothing).

Also the core thugs of the taxi unions hurled babies as missiles to try to keep their gains (or something like that), so no sympathy for them.




cYp

[Catalpa]

Do not the people who paid serious money for Taxi plates not have a case in asking to be compensated for the subsequent loss of these valuable assets they invested in?

These plates were never meant to be resaleable, there was not intention to create a secondary market. Caveat emptor. The only people that ever profited out of the market were taxi drivers & speculators - it was a completely false market (the money did nothing).

Also the core thugs of the taxi unions hurled babies as missiles to try to keep their gains (or something like that), so no sympathy for them.




cYp

Surely if buy something legally you are legally within your rights to re sell it?

It is true the whole Taxi plate market became a farce but surely that was not the fault of the individual taximen?

[Akrasia]

If I buy a ticket for a gig off a tout for €500 and the next day the Gig promoters announce an extra date and 30,000 more tickets at the face value of €60, Do I have a right to sue the Gig promoter for my own lost money?


The people who bought the taxi plates did so on the basis that they could earn a good living and repay the initial investment. they often had 2 or 3 other drivers working for them to keep their plate on the road 24/7.

By the way, I can see the irish government spend 500 million on the feckin legal fees on top of the price of the settlement before all of this is over.

[untouchable]

it is not common knowledge that the government levied a tax of 3000 Euros on every transaction in taxi plates that changed hands during the years prior to re-regulation.Thus they were effectively recognized as trading assets,just as your house attracts stamp duty when you sell it