Subpoena from 3M would force defence secretary Liam Fox to answer claim under oath in US court
Liam Fox, the defence secretary, may be forced to give evidence in a blackmail trial in the United States, the Guardian has learned.
The "unprecedented" legal action could make Fox the first serving British cabinet minister to give evidence in a serious legal case in America.
The Guardian understands that American conglomerate 3M is considering serving Fox with a subpoena. It will demand that he gives evidence over a claim that he was aware of a threat to interfere with the award of a knighthood to 3M's British-born chief executive, George Buckley.
It has been alleged that Porton Capital, a private equity partner of the Ministry of Defence, demanded that 3M hand over $30m (�18.5m) or risk the embarrassment of the government interfering with the knighthood that was awarded to Buckley in June's Queen's birthday honours list.
It has been alleged that Fox was party to a conversation about the suggestion.
A 3M subpoena would force Fox to answer the claim under oath. An email to Porton Capital from 3M's lawyers, which has been seen by the Guardian, said: "We request that you accept subpoenas on [Fox's] behalf for the production of documents and deposition upon oral testimony."
Lawyers for 3M have yet to serve a subpoena on Fox.
Harvey Boulter, chief executive of Porton Capital, which worked with the government to develop innovative technology in the battle against MRSA, has been accused of blackmail and served with legal papers. Boulter and Porton Capital deny the claim.
According to 3M's lawyers, Boulter told them that if an earlier legal battle over the MRSA technology was not settled out of court he would use his political influence to interfere with Buckley's knighthood.
The blackmail case is built on several emails Boulter sent to 3M's lawyers last month. "As a result of my meeting [with Fox] you ought to understand that David Cameron's cabinet might very shortly be discussing the rather embarrassing situation of George [Buckley]'s knighthood. It was discussed today," Boulter said in one of the emails.
"Governments are big and sometimes decisions in one part are not well co-ordinated."
Bill Brewer, 3M's lawyer, said: "We are committed to determine who aided, abetted or participated with Boulter in any manner relative to the demands that were made to 3M on 18 June."
In a new statement, Boulter again claimed that he and Fox discussed the litigation. But an MoD spokesman said: "Dr Fox discussed an entirely different matter when he met Mr Boulter. At no point was there any mention of anyone's knighthood, nor did he enter into any discussion about this legal case."
Mark Stephens, a high-profile medialawyer with London firm Finers Stephens Innocent, said: "Calling a serving British cabinet ministers to give evidence is pretty unprecedented."
Stephens said that if the subpoena is served Fox would be pushed to give evidence in America or speak to US lawyers in a British court.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jul/12/liam-fox-3m-subpoena-blackmail
Australasia US healthcare Mafia Weather Blackpool Horse racing
No comments:
Post a Comment