...Too late for victims to sue
By
Nikita Braxton-Benjamin
nikita.braxton@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created:
Feb 25, 2013 at 10:56 PM ECT
Story Updated:
Feb 26, 2013 at 8:35 AM ECT
THE four people beaten by entertainer Machel Montano and songwriter Kernal Roberts are only entitled to the $24,500 compensation ordered by the court yesterday.
The Express was told that since the matter is over four years, the people beaten by the men cannot file lawsuits in the Civil Court.
Montano was found guilty last year for the April 26 2007 assault on Brandis Browne, Russell Pollonais, Janelle Lee Chee and Gerard Bowrin.
He was also found guilty for using obscene language outside the Zen nightclub.
Before Montano was charged, Browne met with then civil attorney Anand Ramlogan at his office in San Fernando, to prepare a civil action.
Ramlogan said then "My client has been approached to settle the matter, but we will allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to do his job."
Ramlogan said his client had given a statement to the police "but regardless of the outcome, I will be filing a civil claim for the injuries sustained by Brandis, because I believe that advantage was taken of this young man".
The lawsuit was never filed.
Ramlogan could not be contacted by cellphone last evening.
Attorney Kevin Ratiram yesterday told the Express, "The limitation period for filing a civil lawsuit (for such an offence) is four years from the date of the incident.
Four years having passed from the date of the incident, the victims are prevented from initiating any civil or High Court action against Machel Montano or anyone else who is alleged to have assaulted them at the time of the incident."
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