Judge urges billionaire Phones4U tycoon and financial expert to settle their differences
A billionaire British businessman and a wealthy French financial expert should make “genuine efforts” to resolve a multi-million High Court dispute, a judge has said.
A judge has urged Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe and John Caudwell to settle their dispute
The dispute, involving John Caudwell – who founded the mobile phone firm Phones4u – and Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe, “cries out for resolution” according to Chief Master Matthew Marsh.
Bosses at money management firm Signia Wealth, which is controlled by a Caudwell family trust, have sued Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe.
They say she misused expenses when working at the firm.
She says she was constructively dismissed – and lost more than £10 million worth of shares.
All sides dispute allegations made against them. Lawyers say any trial is likely to be staged next year.
Chief Master Marsh examined a number of case management issues at a High Court hearing in London in July.
Mr Caudwell founded mobile chain Phones4U
And the judge has urged all parties to settle their differences in a preliminary written ruling.
“This type of claim cries out for a resolution,” he said.
“Whether the parties are able to achieve that is very much a matter for them.”
He added: “The court expects the parties to make genuine efforts to resolve this claim.”
Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe is claiming she lost more than £10 million worth of shares
The judge gave a number of directions relating to how any litigation should proceed.
He heard that lawyers' bills could top £4 million.
Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe, who is in her late 30s, had been at the hearing.
Mr Caudwell, who is in his early 60s and grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, did not attend.