Minibus man wins $7.5 million from Government
Published:Saturday | September 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Supreme Court has ordered the Government to pay $7.5 million in damages to a minibus owner whose motor vehicle was unlawfully seized by Transport Authority workers in April 2006.
Austin Burey, the minibus owner, sued the attorney general and the Transport Authority after his minibus was sold at public auction despite attempts made for it to be returned.
The defendants admitted liability and the case was set for assessment of damages.
Burey's 1995 Toyota Hiace minibus bus was valued at $360,000 at the time it was seized.
Bureys' lawyers, Sean Kinghorn and Danielle Archer, argued that damages should be assessed for what the bus would be worth now instead of at the time when it was seized.
Supreme Court Judge Roy Jones upheld the lawyers' submissions and awarded Burey $7.2 million for the value of the bus and loss of earnings.
The defendants were also ordered to pay $300,000 for exemplary damages because of the unlawful seizure.