Alta Trading UK Limited & Ors v Peter Miles Bosworth & Ors

Alta Trading UK Limited & Ors v Peter Miles Bosworth & Ors

Dishonesty allegations may be relevant to causation in the damages inquiry; Defendants should be given opportunity to plead their position precisely before any strike-out decision. Application to strike out is adjourned to allow further pleadings.

Parties
Claimant: ALTA TRADING UK LIMITED (formerly known as ARCADIA PETROLEUM LIMITED); Claimant: ARCADIA ENERGY (SUISSE) SA; Claimant: ARCADIA ENERGY PTE. LTD.; Claimant: FARAHEAD HOLDINGS LIMITED; Defendant: PETER MILES BOSWORTH; Defendant: COLIN HURLEY; Defendant: STEPHEN CLIVE LANGFORD GIBBONS; Defendant: MARK RICHARD LANCE; Defendant: STEVEN KELBRICK; Defendant: SALEM CHUCRI MOUNZER; Defendant: ARCADIA PETROLEUM SAL OFFSHORE; Defendant: ARCADIA PETROLEUM LIMITED, MAURITIUS; Defendant: ATTOCK OIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, MAURITIUS; Defendant: THE CORNHILL GROUP LIMITED
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
18 July 2025
Procedural Posture
Commercial / Application to Strike Out Allegations
Outcome
Application to strike out dishonesty allegations adjourned; Defendants to amend pleadings on causation relevance.
Legal Topics
Freezing Orders, Damages Inquiry, Strike Out Applications, Dishonesty Allegations, Causation, Mitigation, Aggravated Damages
Civil Procedure Commercial Law Freezing Orders Damages Inquiry Strike Out Applications Dishonesty Allegations Causation Mitigation +1 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 7 Authorities cited 34 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 3
Sign in to unlock

Parties

ALTA TRADING UK LIMITED (formerly known as ARCADIA PETROLEUM LIMITED)

Claimant

ARCADIA ENERGY (SUISSE) SA

Claimant

ARCADIA ENERGY PTE. LTD.

Claimant

FARAHEAD HOLDINGS LIMITED

Claimant

PETER MILES BOSWORTH

Defendant

COLIN HURLEY

Defendant

STEPHEN CLIVE LANGFORD GIBBONS

Defendant

MARK RICHARD LANCE

Defendant

STEVEN KELBRICK

Defendant

SALEM CHUCRI MOUNZER

Defendant

ARCADIA PETROLEUM SAL OFFSHORE

Defendant

ARCADIA PETROLEUM LIMITED, MAURITIUS

Defendant

ATTOCK OIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, MAURITIUS

Defendant

THE CORNHILL GROUP LIMITED

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Commercial / Application to Strike Out Allegations

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether dishonesty allegations should be struck out in the context of an inquiry into damages caused by a freezing order
  2. 2 Relevance of dishonesty allegations to causation, mitigation, aggravated damages, interest, costs, and public interest

Ratio Decidendi

Dishonesty allegations may be relevant to causation in the damages inquiry; Defendants should be given opportunity to plead their position precisely before any strike-out decision. Application to strike out is adjourned to allow further pleadings.

Court Disposition

Application to strike out dishonesty allegations adjourned; Defendants to amend pleadings on causation relevance.

Orders

  • Strike-out application adjourned pending Defendants' draft amendments to Replies on causation.
  • Parties to be heard on appropriate directions for further pleadings.