Dispute between ex-Senator and Sun Bowls Club resolved

Dispute between ex-Senator and Sun Bowls Club resolved

Ted Vibert had been pursuing a civil claim against the Sun Bowls Club, which he had said caused him embarrassment and hurt by not allowing him to renew his membership.

Commenting on the mediation, the club’s representative, Greg Davis, said that Mr Vibert had dropped his claim on the understanding that the club would not pursue legal costs.

‘Ultimately, Mr Vibert has agreed to abandon his claim if the Sun Bowls Club agrees not to pursue its costs, and the parties agree to have published a joint statement in which each expresses regret for the dispute,’ Mr Davis said.

Mr Vibert had initially made a civil claim against four bowls clubs in the Island, on the grounds that they had caused him embarrassment and hurt by not allowing him to join.

However, after his claim seeking £5,000 in damages from each of the clubs was dismissed by the Royal Court last year, Mr Vibert lodged an appeal.

Following the appeal, the original decisions were upheld in the case of three of the clubs but the court decided that further evidence was needed regarding Mr Vibert’s status at the Sun Bowls Club.

There had been some doubt as to whether Mr Vibert had resigned from the Sun Bowls Club or not, following allegations that he had likened its members to Adolf Hitler during an AGM. Mr Vibert, however, insisted that he had never stopped being a member of the club and had only been attempting to renew his membership.

‘The Royal Court recognised that this case affected many sports and social clubs in the Island because many of them have constitutions that need updating to bring them into line with modern standards of fairness as agreed by UK Courts,’ Mr Vibert said.

‘I believe that the lawyers acting for clubs have a duty to ensure that clubs update their rules to ensure that they do not run against the laws of the land, as is the case with the Sun.

‘Hopefully, the minister for sport will take some note of this case, especially as many of the bowling clubs occupy States-owned properties and pay peppercorn rentals.’

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