National Crime Agency v Leahy & Ors [2020] EWHC 1242 (QB) (18 May 2020)

National Crime Agency v Leahy & Ors [2020] EWHC 1242 (QB) (18 May 2020)

The balance of convenience is substantially in favour of continuing the Property Freezing Order. The potential prejudice to the National Crime Agency and the public interest in preserving the value of property potentially obtained through crime outweigh the financial and personal difficulties faced by the Leahy defendants. The application to discharge the order is refused. Specific disclosure upon request, following simultaneous exchange of evidence, is ordered as fair and proportionate. Costs budgeting is appropriate given the complexity and scale of the proceedings.

Citation
[2020] EWHC 1242
Parties
Respondent/claimant: National Crime Agency; Applicant/defendant: Richard Joseph Leahy; Applicant/defendant: Mortimer Property Investments Limited; Applicant/defendant: Eldergrand Limited; Applicant/defendant: Mortimer Commercial Investments Limited; Applicant/defendant: Mortimer Holdings Limited; Applicant/defendant: Itradent Limited; Applicant/defendant: PLI UK Limited; Applicant/defendant: Capital House Bradbourne Limited; Applicant/defendant: Hassock Wood Limited; Applicant/defendant: Future House Limited; Applicant/defendant: Mortimer House Limited; Applicant/defendant: Caxton Street North Limited; Applicant/defendant: Mortimer Solutions Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
18 May 2020
Procedural Posture
Civil Recovery Order Under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (poca) / Interlocutory Application to Discharge Property Freezing Order; Case Management Directions
Outcome
Application to discharge Property Freezing Order refused; case management directions given.
Legal Topics
Property Freezing Orders, Civil Recovery, Disclosure, Costs Budgeting, Case Management
Civil Procedure Proceeds of Crime Property Law Property Freezing Orders Civil Recovery Disclosure Costs Budgeting Case Management

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Parties

National Crime Agency

Respondent/claimant

Richard Joseph Leahy

Applicant/defendant

Mortimer Property Investments Limited

Applicant/defendant

Eldergrand Limited

Applicant/defendant

Mortimer Commercial Investments Limited

Applicant/defendant

Mortimer Holdings Limited

Applicant/defendant

Itradent Limited

Applicant/defendant

PLI UK Limited

Applicant/defendant

Capital House Bradbourne Limited

Applicant/defendant

Hassock Wood Limited

Applicant/defendant

Future House Limited

Applicant/defendant

Mortimer House Limited

Applicant/defendant

Caxton Street North Limited

Applicant/defendant

Mortimer Solutions Limited

Applicant/defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Recovery Order Under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (poca) / Interlocutory Application to Discharge Property Freezing Order; Case Management Directions

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Property Freezing Order should be discharged or varied under section 245B of POCA
  2. 2 Appropriate disclosure and case management directions in contested civil recovery proceedings
  3. 3 Whether costs budgeting should be ordered

Ratio Decidendi

The balance of convenience is substantially in favour of continuing the Property Freezing Order. The potential prejudice to the National Crime Agency and the public interest in preserving the value of property potentially obtained through crime outweigh the financial and personal difficulties faced by the Leahy defendants. The application to discharge the order is refused. Specific disclosure upon request, following simultaneous exchange of evidence, is ordered as fair and proportionate. Costs budgeting is appropriate given the complexity and scale of the proceedings.

Court Disposition

Application to discharge Property Freezing Order refused; case management directions given.

Orders

  • Property Freezing Order to continue in force.
  • Specific disclosure upon request following simultaneous exchange of evidence.