The threats about defamation, breach of contract, contempt of court, potential action by third parties etc are also duly noted; a fairly typical variety of seasonal greetings from Shell. Is this part of the policy of dealing with me “sympathetically” as promised in writing by Mr Wiseman on 26th November 2002? If this is the compassionate approach, it is frightening to speculate on what I could expect if Shell decided to take a hardline; perhaps a gift-wrapped bomb-tipped walking stick, or an Ebola infected fairy queen to hang on my Xmas Tree?
By John Donovan
I have been looking at our correspondence files with Shell and its lawyers stretching back two decades.
This is in connection with an ongoing project that will come to fruition in 2014.
Since we fought six high court actions against Shell between 1994 and 1999, there were bound to be some interesting episodes.
In 1997, Shell management was enraged that we were bringing yet another claim for breach of confidence and breach of contract – Shell had already settled our first three actions.