Supreme Court throws out JC school uniform lawsuit

The Supreme Court today threw out the lawsuit brought by acting principal of Jamaica College, Wayne Robinson, against former president of the JC Old Boys Association Major Basil Jarrett over the sale of school uniforms.

Justice Opal Smith ruled that Robinson did not have the locus standi or the right to bring an action to court, as Jarrett had contended.

After the lawsuit was filed, Jarrett brought a claim asking the court to dismiss the Robinson's suit as a frivolous and a malicious abuse of the process.

The judge's written reasons will be delivered next week Friday.

King's Counsel Michael Hylton, who is representing Robinson, applied for leave to appeal the judge's decision and it was granted.

Jarrett, who was represented by King's Counsel Walter Scott, had asked the court to dismiss the claim on three grounds.

They were that Robinson did not have the locus standi to bring the claim; He (Jarrett) was the wrong defendant and there was no agency established between Robinson and himself.

Scott had argued that Jarrett was contending that if there was a contract, it would have been between the JCOBA and the school and not Robinson personally.

Robinson wanted Jarrett to give an account of how proceeds from the sale of the uniforms were used under Jarrett's leadership of JCOBA.

It was alleged that there was impropriety on Jarrett's part.

In response, Jarrett's lawyer had submitted a verified copy of the most recent audited financial report which Jarrett stated was supplied to the school board over a year ago and showed no suggestion of financial malfeasance.

Jarrett, in court documents filed, had asked the court to find that the suit was part of a deliberate attempt to malign him for objecting to the failed attempt by the JC Board to retain former principal Ruel Reid.

In dismissing the claim, the judge ordered Robinson to pay costs for both the claim and the application to strike.

Speaking with The Gleaner, Jarrett today expressed satisfaction with the courts decision but noted that this is not the end as Robinson and other members of the board have sued him in another matter.

"Obviously, I am satisfied with today's judgement and see it as a victory for standing up for principle, truth and in defence of oneself against even the most powerful of persons. But this is not the end. These men have taken out two lawsuits against me and I expect to successfully defend those claims as vigorously as this one"

- Barbara Gayle

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