Former Deccan Chargers Chief Wins Wrongful Dismissal Case Against Franchise

Former Deccan Chargers chief executive, Tim Wright, has prevailed in his case for wrongful dismissal against the franchise and been awarded £10.5 million ($16million), plus legal costs, by the High Court in London.

Previously with IMG, Wright joined the Chargers management after the first season of the IPL but was dismissed in January 2009 and began legal proceedings against Chargers and its parent company, Deccan Chronicle Holdings, the following month. Chargers had challenged the jurisdiction of the English court but Wright was granted the right for his case to be heard in the UK.

At Monday’s trial, Judge Seymour ruled that Chargers had committed several breaches of their contract with Wright, including failing to provide him with his full salary, benefits and pension entitlements, failing to appoint him to the board of directors and failing to transfer to him an agreed equity share in the company. They were ordered to pay him his dues (£10 million) as per his contract, with interest.

The judge also called Chargers’ conduct during the litigation ‘disgraceful’; they had not attended the trial, after having submitted their case as defendants.

“Today’s judgment is vindication of my decision not to be cowed by the bullying of a large corporation,” Wright was quoted as saying after the trial’s completion.