Bleasdale’s property seized by High Court bailiffs
14 January 2015
Items of property owned by Kate Bleasdale, were seized by bailiffs in an attempt by a former business associate to recover debts of over £3m owed to her by the founder of recruiter Healthcare Locums (HCL) and her husband John Cariss, the High Court in London has heard.
Wed, 14 Jan 2015 | By Colin CottellItems of property owned by Kate Bleasdale, the founder of recruiter Healthcare Locums (HCL), were seized by bailiffs in an attempt by a former business associate to recover debts of over £3m owed to her by Bleasdale and her husband John Cariss, the High Court in London has heard.
The action to send in bailiffs from the High Court Sheriff’s Office was taken by Debbie Forster, founder of Stayput Solutions, with whom Bleasdale has had a long-running legal dispute.
After Bleasdale invested in the company, Forster won two High Court judgements, in December 2011 and again in March 2013, ordering Bleasdale to pay her damages and interest of £3.3m after she [Forster] was ousted from the company in 2008.
During yesterday’s [13 January] proceedings, His Honour Judge Colin Birss QC refused an application from Bleasdale and her husband John Cariss that two computers seized by bailiffs during the raid in December be returned to the couple. However, he ruled that the information on the computers should be given back.
Bleasdale’s counsel David Isaacs argued that other items seized during the raid should not be sold at an auction that had been planned for 26 January as part of Forster’s attempts to recover the money owed to her, while counter claims by Bleasdale against Forster amounting to some £12m were outstanding. Isaacs told the court: “It would be unjust for Debbie Forster to collect that money upfront.” Judge Birss ruled that under the circumstances “the only fair thing” would be that for the time being the goods seized should not be sold.
Yesterday’s proceedings run alongside efforts by Forster seeking to make Bleasdale bankrupt. On 30 July 2014, Kingston High Court agreed that Forster could petition for bankruptcy in an attempt to recover the money she claims Bleasdale owes her. Following a hearing in Kingston County Court on 23 September, bankruptcy proceedings are due to reconvene later this week.
Bleasdale, who founded HCL in 2003, is no stranger to courtroom drama. In March 2011, Bleasdale, then executive vice-chairman of HCL, was dismissed by the company after accounting irregularities were discovered at the firm. This led to an ultimately unsuccessful £12m claim by Bleasdale for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.
In 2002, former nurse Bleasdale won a £2.2m settlement in a sexual discrimination case at her previous medical staffing business, Match Group.
The action to send in bailiffs from the High Court Sheriff’s Office was taken by Debbie Forster, founder of Stayput Solutions, with whom Bleasdale has had a long-running legal dispute.
After Bleasdale invested in the company, Forster won two High Court judgements, in December 2011 and again in March 2013, ordering Bleasdale to pay her damages and interest of £3.3m after she [Forster] was ousted from the company in 2008.
During yesterday’s [13 January] proceedings, His Honour Judge Colin Birss QC refused an application from Bleasdale and her husband John Cariss that two computers seized by bailiffs during the raid in December be returned to the couple. However, he ruled that the information on the computers should be given back.
Bleasdale’s counsel David Isaacs argued that other items seized during the raid should not be sold at an auction that had been planned for 26 January as part of Forster’s attempts to recover the money owed to her, while counter claims by Bleasdale against Forster amounting to some £12m were outstanding. Isaacs told the court: “It would be unjust for Debbie Forster to collect that money upfront.” Judge Birss ruled that under the circumstances “the only fair thing” would be that for the time being the goods seized should not be sold.
Yesterday’s proceedings run alongside efforts by Forster seeking to make Bleasdale bankrupt. On 30 July 2014, Kingston High Court agreed that Forster could petition for bankruptcy in an attempt to recover the money she claims Bleasdale owes her. Following a hearing in Kingston County Court on 23 September, bankruptcy proceedings are due to reconvene later this week.
Bleasdale, who founded HCL in 2003, is no stranger to courtroom drama. In March 2011, Bleasdale, then executive vice-chairman of HCL, was dismissed by the company after accounting irregularities were discovered at the firm. This led to an ultimately unsuccessful £12m claim by Bleasdale for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.
In 2002, former nurse Bleasdale won a £2.2m settlement in a sexual discrimination case at her previous medical staffing business, Match Group.
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