Skywest pulls out of Meeke case
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Skywest pulls out of Meeke case
Skywest pulls out of Meeke case
By Geoffrey Thomas
SKYWEST Airlines yesterday withdrew its legal action against former chief executive Bill Meeke for alleged defamation in a letter he wrote to shareholders.
In the WA Supreme Court, Master David Newnes granted Skywest leave to discontinue the action and also discharged injunctions relating to the case against Mr Meeke, West Australian Newspapers Holdings, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the plaintiff's own shareholders.
Skywest was rescued after the collapse of Ansett in February last year by a syndicate led by Mr Meeke, which paid $6.75 million for the airline.
But Mr Meeke was sacked in July for alleged non-performance, triggering a series of legal actions.
After publication of his letter to shareholders in September, which stated Mr Meeke's version of events leading to his sacking, Skywest launched an action against Mr Meeke for breach of statutory duties and unspecified damages for defamation. It also sought a permanent injunction from disclosure of confidential information.
The airline was also granted various injunctions against The West Australian and the ABC from reporting the full contents of the letter and stopping Skywest shareholders from discussing it.
The courts did, however, allow an edited version to be published.
Skywest chairman Pat Ryan said the airline's board had decided to withdraw the defamation action because the objective had been reached.
"We launched this action to protect the commercial interests of Skywest in relation to incorrect and damaging information that had been distributed by Mr Meeke," Mr Ryan said.
Mr Meeke has rejected this.
Mr Ryan said the airline had recently written to shareholders concerning Mr Meeke's $1.3 million breach of contract action, claiming the airline stood to loose nowhere near this amount.
Mr Meeke has sued both Skywest and Mr Ryan for $1.3 million over his dismissal last year claiming he had a four-year contract.
In his letter to shareholders, Mr Ryan claimed there was no four-year contract as outlined by Mr Meeke, either verbal or written.
But Mr Meeke's solicitor, Brendan Ashdown, rejected this. "We refute the allegation that there was no contract for Mr Meeke and will be pursuing the matter to establish the validity of the action," he said.
Mediation between the parties broke down last month after Mr Meeke rejected an offer from Skywest.
In an unrelated matter, Skywest chief executive and director Scott Henderson confirmed the airline had provided a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers to the State Government relating to its ability to meets it debts as they fall due.
By Geoffrey Thomas
SKYWEST Airlines yesterday withdrew its legal action against former chief executive Bill Meeke for alleged defamation in a letter he wrote to shareholders.
In the WA Supreme Court, Master David Newnes granted Skywest leave to discontinue the action and also discharged injunctions relating to the case against Mr Meeke, West Australian Newspapers Holdings, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the plaintiff's own shareholders.
Skywest was rescued after the collapse of Ansett in February last year by a syndicate led by Mr Meeke, which paid $6.75 million for the airline.
But Mr Meeke was sacked in July for alleged non-performance, triggering a series of legal actions.
After publication of his letter to shareholders in September, which stated Mr Meeke's version of events leading to his sacking, Skywest launched an action against Mr Meeke for breach of statutory duties and unspecified damages for defamation. It also sought a permanent injunction from disclosure of confidential information.
The airline was also granted various injunctions against The West Australian and the ABC from reporting the full contents of the letter and stopping Skywest shareholders from discussing it.
The courts did, however, allow an edited version to be published.
Skywest chairman Pat Ryan said the airline's board had decided to withdraw the defamation action because the objective had been reached.
"We launched this action to protect the commercial interests of Skywest in relation to incorrect and damaging information that had been distributed by Mr Meeke," Mr Ryan said.
Mr Meeke has rejected this.
Mr Ryan said the airline had recently written to shareholders concerning Mr Meeke's $1.3 million breach of contract action, claiming the airline stood to loose nowhere near this amount.
Mr Meeke has sued both Skywest and Mr Ryan for $1.3 million over his dismissal last year claiming he had a four-year contract.
In his letter to shareholders, Mr Ryan claimed there was no four-year contract as outlined by Mr Meeke, either verbal or written.
But Mr Meeke's solicitor, Brendan Ashdown, rejected this. "We refute the allegation that there was no contract for Mr Meeke and will be pursuing the matter to establish the validity of the action," he said.
Mediation between the parties broke down last month after Mr Meeke rejected an offer from Skywest.
In an unrelated matter, Skywest chief executive and director Scott Henderson confirmed the airline had provided a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers to the State Government relating to its ability to meets it debts as they fall due.
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I wonder if XR will have enough working capital after they pay Bill off to provide this sort of letter?
Pat Ryan is a dreamer with absolutely no understanding of aviation.
G.T'S FINAL HEAD LINE ON THE SAGA
SKYWEST GIVEN 30 DAYS TO PAY MEAKE 1.1 M
In an unrelated matter, Skywest chief executive and director Scott Henderson confirmed the airline had provided a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers to the State Government relating to its ability to meets it debts as they fall due.
Pat Ryan is a dreamer with absolutely no understanding of aviation.
G.T'S FINAL HEAD LINE ON THE SAGA
SKYWEST GIVEN 30 DAYS TO PAY MEAKE 1.1 M
