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NVvBellwayLlc[2007]EWHC1363(Comm)(12June2007)
URL:http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2007/1363.html
Citeas:[2007]2Lloyd'sRep493,[2007]1CLC920,[2007]EWHC1363(Comm),[2007]ArbLR8
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NeutralCitationNumber:[2007]EWHC1363(Comm)
CaseNo:2006Folio1103
INTHEHIGHCOURTOFJUSTICE
QUEEN'SBENCHDIVISION
COMMERCIALCOURT
RoyalCourtsofJustice
Strand,London,WC2A2LL
12/06/2007
Before:
THEHONOURABLEMRJUSTICECOOKE
____________________
Between:
BEAHotels N V
and
BellwayLLC
Claimant
Defendant
____________________
MrPMcGrath(instructedbyBerwinLeightonPaisner)fortheClaimant
MrJLockeyQC(instructedbyKennedys)fortheDefendant
Hearingdates:56June2007
____________________
HTMLVERSIONOFJUDGMENT
____________________
CrownCopyright
MrJusticeCooke:
Introduction
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15.Whilstanumberofauthoritieswerereferredtointheskeletonarguments,intheendIwas
referredonlytothedecisionsofLloydJ(ashethenwas)intheMercanaut[1980]2Lloyds
Reports183andtheGoldenAnne[1984]2LloydsReports489wherethearbitration
agreementswerebreachedbutthecourtconcludedthatthebreachwasnotrepudiatorybecause
therewassomeexplanationforbringingthecourtproceedingswhichinturnmeantthatthe
courtcouldnotinferanintentiontorepudiate.
16.ItisinthiscontextthatattentionmustbepaidtotheParticularsofClaimservedby Bellway
inTelAviv2.
TheParticularsofClaiminTelAviv2
17.ThesecondsetofIsraeliproceedingswasinstitutedbyMrRazin, Bellway andMonilen
againsttheeightdefendantstowhomIhavealreadyreferredandDomino.Thenatureofthe
claimwasdescribedas"1.Contractualtorts.2.Issuingofdeclaratoryrelief".Inthepreamble
thethreeplaintiffssetouttheirintentiontoapplyforconsolidationoftheclaimwithTelAviv1,
whichwasdescribedas"afutileattemptby BEA and BEA Easterntocoverupa
blatantactoflarcenycommittedbythefirsteightdefendantsagainst Bellway 'sproperty".
Paragraphs3,4and5areofimportanceinthecontextoftheargument.Inthoseparagraphs
defendant7is BEA ,defendant8is BEA Easternandplaintiff2is Bellway .In
translationthoseparagraphsreadasfollows:
"3.Thisistheplacetonotethatdefendant7[ BEA ],whoknewthatplaintiff2[
Bellway ]wouldbefilingaclaimagainstitundertheaegisofanarbitrationas
requiredbyanagreementbetweentheparties,precededitandhurriedtotheCourt
withtheconcurrentclaim,whichisbaselessandunfounded,againstotherparties
whoareinvolvedinthissaga,whereithasomitteddefendant2[ BEA ]fromits
claimduetothearbitrationclauseincludedintheagreementbetweentheparties.
4.Thisisalsotheplacetonotethatatthetimeoffilingthisclaim(after3years
duringwhichthedefendantsdideverythingtheycouldtoobstruct Bellway in
clarifyingtheaffairthoroughly),legalproceedingsarebeingconductedbetween
plaintiff2anddefendant7undertheaegisoftheLondonCourtofInternational
Arbitration(*hereinafter:"LCIA").Accordingly,forthesakeofcaution,the
plaintiffsshallexpresslystatethatallthearguments,whetherofageneralor
specificnature,addressedbytheplaintiffsagainstthedefendants,cannotinclude
theargumentsofplaintiff2[ Bellway ]againstdefendant7[ BEA ],
argumentswhicharetobeinvestigatedundertheaegisoftheLCIA.
5.Itisnotfornothingthatthisclaimisdeliberatelybeingfiled3yearsafterthe
proceedingswereinstitutedintheconcurrentclaim.Plaintiff2[ Bellway ],who
foughtformorethanthreeyearstohaveanarbitratorappointedinthedispute
betweenitanddefendant7[ BEA ],withthelatterdoingeverythingitcould
preventtheappointmentofsuchanarbitrator,only'managed'inthelastfewdaysto
haveanarbitratorappointedinthisaffairanEnglisharbitrator,basedinLondon
andappointedbytheLCIA.Now,whenithastranspiredthatthedisputeisbeing
conductedbetweensomeoftheinvolvedpartiesinLondon,thewayhasbeen
preparedforfilingthisclaiminIsraelagainsttheremainingpartieswhotookpart
inthisaffair.Inaddition,theplaintiffsrecentlyreceivedforthefirsttimethe
testimoniesandopinionsofthewitnessesandexpertsonbehalfofdefendants7and
8intheconcurrentclaimveryimportantmaterialwhichattests,loudandclear,to
theseverityoftheactsofallthedefendants,tothepersonalanddirectinvolvement
ofeachandeveryoneoftheminthisaffair,partieswhoarenotpartytothe
aforementionedarbitrationclause,andunderlinesthetruthoftheplaintiffs'outcry
duetothelarcenyoftheirsharesliterallydaylightrobberyanargumentthatwill
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befullyelaboratedinthisstatementofclaim."
18.Whilstthereweresmalldifferencesinvarioustranslationsputforwardbythepartiesthe
substanceoftheparagraphsremainedthesame.Themessageofparagraphs3,4and5isclearly
totheeffectthat BEA hassoughttoavoidarbitration,that Bellway hasfor3years
foughttohavearbitration,andthatTelAviv2expresslyexcludes Bellway 'sclaimsagainst
BEA whicharetobepursuedinthearbitration.Furthermore,asthearbitrationislimitedto
"someoftheinvolvedpartiesinLondon"theclaiminIsraelistotakeeffectagainstthe
remainingpartieswhowereinvolvedintheeventsatissuebutarenotpartiestothearbitration.
(Itissuggestedby Bellway thattheword"arguments",whichappearstwiceinthelast
sentenceofparagraph4,wouldbebettertranslated"claims").
19.Whetherornot Bellway hadunequivocallypursuedthequestionofarbitrationover3years
orhadpursuedarbitrationinadifferentformattothatenvisagedbyclause11oftheTerm
Sheet,byseekingtoobtainanappointmentofanIsraeliarbitratorbytheTelAviv,courtis
nothingtothepoint.BythetimethattheParticularsofClaimwereservedinApril2006,
Bellway hadjustspent2monthsfollowingthedecisionoftheTelAvivCourtthatLCIA
proceduresshouldbefollowed,infollowingthoseprocedures,commencingarbitrationby
makingaRequesttotheLCIAandobtainingtheappointmentofanarbitratorinthefaceof
continuingoppositionanddelayfrom BEA .Atthisstage Bellway wasgivingevery
indicationthatitwantedtoproceedwiththearbitrationagainst BEA .
20.Some3weeksafterthearbitratorwhich Bellway soughthadbeenappointed, Bellway
servedtheParticularsofClaiminTelAviv2whichcontainedtheseparagraphs.Inmy
judgment,what Bellway wasunequivocallysayinginparagraphs35ofthisstatementof
casewasthatitwasnotusingtheTelAvivproceedingstopursueanyclaimsby Bellway
against BEA ,sincethoseclaimsweretoberesolvedwithinthecontextofthearbitration,
butwasnowinaposition,havingcommencedarbitrationagainst BEA ,topursuetheother
defendantsinTelAvivinrespectofthesamehistoryofevents.Icannotseethatthese
paragraphscanbearanyotherconstructionandtheeffectoftheminthePreambletothe
Particularsisthattherestofthepleadingmustbereadsubjecttoit.
21.Inthesecircumstances,unlessthatstatementof Bellway 'sintentiontopursueitsclaims
against BEA intheLCIAarbitrationwasuntrue,itisnotpossibletosaythat Bellway ,
inservingthispleading,wasunequivocallystatingthatitdidnotintendtoabidebythe
agreementthattheseclaimsshouldbedeterminedinthearbitration.Thereisnobasisforany
suchassertionanditwasnotmade.Thefurthestthat BEA waspreparedtogowastosay
that Bellway wastryingtohaveitsclaimsheardagainst BEA inbothfora,(TelAviv
andthearbitration). BEA saiditwasnotamatterofsubjectiveintention,butaquestionof
whattheconductof Bellway inpursuingclaimsinTelAvivshowedandifthelaterclaims
includedclaimsagainst BEA ,thenobjectivelytheremustbearepudiation,becausethe
runningofsuchclaimsinTelAvivwasinconsistentwithhavingthemdeterminedinarbitration.
22. BEA 'scaseisthat BEA hasbeenjoinedasadefendantinTelAviv2andthatthe
balanceofthestatementofcasesetsoutsomeclaimsagainst BEA alonewhichtheTel
Avivcourtwouldbeboundtodetermineandwhichwouldconstituteresjudicataorissue
estoppelasbetween BEA and Bellway .Itissaidthatparagraphs35arenottobegiven
undueweightandthattheymustbereadinthecontextofthestatementofcaseasawhole
whichpursuescontractualclaimswhichcanonlybeclaimsmadeby Bellway against
BEA .Itissaidthat,wheresuchclaimsareclearlymade,paragraphs4and5ofthe
ParticularsofClaimare,toallintentsandpurposesineffective.Onatrueconstruction,theycan
onlyhaveapplicationwherethereisameasureofdoubtwhetheraclaimisbeingpursued
against BEA orothers,butcanhavenoimpactwhereitisclearthataclaimisbeing
pursuedagainst BEA ,whichmustbethepositionwherethereisnootherpotential
defendanttotheclaiminquestion.Because BEA isjoinedasadefendant,theIsraeliCourt
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isinvestedwiththedutyofdeterminingthoseclaimsregardlessofparagraphs35ofthe
pleading.
23.Iamunabletoaccept BEA 'ssubmissions.EveniftheParticularsofClaiminTelAviv2
containedaseriesofclaimswhichonanalysiscouldonlybevestedin Bellway andrun
against BEA ,sothatthereisapparentinconsistencybetweenparagraphs35andthelater
pleadedclaimsof Bellway against BEA ,theeffectofparagraphs35,incomingatthe
beginningofthepleadingandexplainingtheintentionofthepleader,isexpresslyand
specificallytodisavowanyclaimof Bellway against BEA whichfallswithinthe
arbitrationagreement.Whateverinconsistenciesthereaftermightappear,thecontrolling
paragraphsinthePreambletothepleadinggovernthepositionforallpurposes,withaclearly
expressedintentiontopursuesuchclaimsinarbitrationandnotinTelAviv2.Noreasonable
personin BEA 'spositioncouldhavethoughtthat Bellway was,inthispleading,
exhibitinganintentionnottopursueitsclaimsagainst BEA inarbitration.Theexpressed
intentionwastocomplementthearbitrationbyhavingthoseclaimsdeterminedinTelAviv
whichcouldnotbedecidedinthearbitration,essentiallybecausetherelevantplaintiffor
defendantwasnotapartytothearbitrationagreement.
24. BEA 'scaseonrepudiationcannottherefore,inmyjudgment,succeed.Farfromtherebeing
anunequivocalevincingofanintentionnottobeboundbytheagreementtorefer,thereis,in
theseparagraphsinthepreamble,anunequivocalexpressionofanintentiontobeboundbythat
agreementandifanythingappearselsewhereinthepleadingwhichcouldthrowthatintodoubt,
thepositionatbestfor BEA 'sargumentswouldbeambiguous,whichwouldnotbeenough
forittoshowanunequivocalintentionnottobeboundwhichisnecessarytoshowa
renunciation/repudiation.
25.Thechallengetothearbitrator'sjurisdictionmustthereforefailand BEA 'sapplicationunder
s67oftheArbitrationActmustbedismissed.
26.Whilstconductaftertheallegedacceptanceoftherepudiationisirrelevant,itisnoteworthythat
BEA neversoughtanyclarificationof Bellway 'spositionwithregardtotheforumfor
determinationofitsclaimsagainst BEA noreverappliedtotheIsraeliCourtforastayof
suchclaims,insofarastheyweretobefoundinTelAviv2.Insteaditappliedon27April2006
totheArbitratorforarulingthatthearbitrationagreementhadbeenrepudiated.Itisinmy
judgmentplainthat,fortacticalreasons, BEA wishestoavoidarbitrationorattheveryleast
delayanyarbitrationuntiltheconclusionofTelAviv1,whichdoesnotconcernclaimsagainst
Bellway or Bellway claimsagainst BEA .Thewholeof BEA 'sconduct,
includingitspursuitofitsfailedlisalibipendensapplicationtotheArbitratorfollowinghis
rulingagainstitonthejurisdictionapplication,bearsthisout.Itiscleartome,fromallthe
evidence,that BEA couldnothavesubjectivelythoughtthat Bellway intendednotto
pursueitsclaimsagainst BEA intheLCIAarbitration,whilsttheobjectivepositionisplain,
asIhavealreadyheld.
27. Bellway furtherarguedthatthelaterclaimssetoutintheParticularsofClaimwere,on
properanalysis,claimsbyoragainstpartiestotheactionotherthan Bellway or BEA ,
asthecasemightbe,oratworstclaimswhichwerenotagainst BEA alone,sothatthere
wasnoinconsistencybetweenparagraphs35andthelaterpartsofthestatementofcase,
becausenoclaimswerebeingpursuedby Bellway against BEA assuch.Insuchacase,
notonlywouldparagraphs35beeffectivetoexcludeclaimsby Bellway against BEA
fromtheclaimsbeforetheIsraeliCourt,buttherecouldinanyeventbenobreachofthe
arbitrationagreementinservingtheParticularsofClaimatall,letalonearepudiatorybreach.
BreachoftheArbitrationAgreement.
28.SectionBofthestatementofcaseidentifiesthepartiestotheproceedings.MrZisseris
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iv)ThePlaintiffsclaimthatthedefendantsbreachedtheprovisionsofsection52oftheTorts
Order(NewVersion)pertainingtoembezzlementbytheimpropersharetransfer.Thisclaim
onceagainimpleadstheDirectorsofDescaandothersinvolvedintheactsinquestion.
v )Inparagraph134.5ofthepleadingtheclaimismadethatthedefendantscontravenedthe
provisionsofsection39oftheContractsAct(GeneralPart)whenbreachingtheprovisionsof
theagreement(meaningtheTermSheet)inimproperlyconveningtheboardmeetingandacting
tostealtheshares,infailingtocomplywithclause6.3oftheTermSheetwithregardto hotel
renovationandfailingtorepaytheMonilendebtinaccordancewithaloanagreementof26
June2001. BEA 'ssubmissionwasthatthiswasaclearcontractualclaimwhichcouldonly
bemadeagainst BEA andnobodyelse.
vi)Inparagraph134.6,theplaintiffsclaimthatclauses9.4and9.5oftheTermSheetentitled
Bellway tosignamanagementagreementwithBucarestifortheapartment hotel andtoa
shareinthemanagementprofitsoftheChinarestaurantandotherBucarestiassets.Specific
performancewasclaimedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofsection2oftheContractsAct
(RemediesforBreachofContract).Onceagain BEA maintainsthatthiswasaclearclaim
forbreachofcontactwhichcouldonlyariseagainst BEA .
vii)ItisalsoallegedthatElscintbreachedtheprovisionsofsection35oftheTortsOrder(New
Version)whenitreportedtotheauthoritiesthatithadpurchasedBucarestiforanamountwhich
didnotmatchthetruepurchasevalue.Thisclaimisexpresslynotmadeagainst BEA .
viii)Thereisthenacatchallsubparagraphinwhichitisstatedthattheplaintiffswouldargue
thatthedefendantsbreachedtheprovisionsofsection63oftheTortsOrder(NewVersion)
whichrelatestoviolationofstatutoryduty,whentheyfailedtofulfilthedutiesimposedon
thempursuanttothevariousstatutesreferredtointheprevious7subparagraphs.
36. BEA 'sargumentfocusedontheparticularparagraphsinthepleadingwhichalleged
breachesofclause6.3,9.4and9.5oftheTermSheet,assetoutinsubparagraphs( v )and
(vi)ofthepreviousparagraphofthisjudgment.Reliancewasalsoplaceduponparagraphs136
139ofthepleading,whilstsubmittingthatitwascontractualreliefwhichwasbeingsoughtin
eachcase.
37.What BEA overlookhoweverintheirsubmissions,isthatthethrustofthepleadingistothe
effectthatMrZisserisresponsiblefortheactsof BEA ,asitissaidtobehiscreature
companywhilstalltheotherindividualsandentitiesareequallyunderhiscontrolaspartofhis
Group.AnyclaimofabreachoftheTermSheetthereforeisnotsimplyaclaimagainst BEA
forbreachofcontractbutaclaimagainstMrZisserandtheotherdefendants(otherthan
BEA andDomino)fortheiractionsastortiousorstatutorybreachofdutyinrespectofthe
selfsamebreach.
38.WhetherornotsuchaclaimisalsovestedinMrRazin, Bellway has,accordingtoProfessor
Goshen,aclaimagainstMrZisserforcausing,andagainsttheotherdefendantsforassistingin,
thebreachoftheagreementbetween Bellway and BEA asbreachesofstatutorydutyor
tort.WhilstProfessorBeincontendedthataclaimforbreachofcontractwasdifferentfroma
claimforinducingbreachofcontractorassistinginabreachofcontractandshouldbe
distinctlypleaded,itisclearfromtheoveralltenorofthepleadingandfromthereliefsought
thattheplaintiffs,whether Bellway orMrRazin,areseekingordersofthecourttoprocure
thefulfilmentbytheDefendantsof BEA 'scontractualobligationsbecausetheyareina
positiontoactfor BEA and/orDescaand/orDominoortoclaimdamagesfortheirbreach
oftortiousorstatutoryduty.Thusanapplicationismadetothecourtinthepleading:under
paragraph136todeclarethat Bellway isthelawfulowner(againsttheworld)of20%of
Dominoshares(throughDesca)underparagraph137torulethattheDefendantsbreachedand
oractedtobreachtheTermSheetandfailedtorepaytheloandueto Bellway from
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Dominounderparagraph138toenforcetheLoanAgreementagainstDominoandunder
paragraph139ofthepleadingfortheenforcementoftheagreementbetweentheparties,
requiringthedefendantstoactsothatBucarestisignsamanagementagreementwith
Bellway ortheapartment hotel andtheChinarestaurantandotherBucarestiassets.
39.Whereparagraph134.5specificallyallegestheimproperconveningoftheDescaBoard
MeetingandtheimpropertransferofsharesbytheDescaDirectors,alsocomplainingofthe
failuretocomplywiththeprovisionsoftheTermSheetfor hotel renovation,thosematters
layinthehandsofthe BEA Directorswhopassedaresolutiontoclosedownthe hotel
forthatpurpose,assetoutinparagraph106ofthepleading.Theignoringoftherelatedparty
transactionprovisionsintheTermSheetwassomethingcarriedoutbythe BEA appointed
DescaDirectors,onceagainwithoutreferencetothe Bellway appointedDirectorata
meetingwhichhadbeenimproperlyconvened.Itisclearagainthatthe"they"referredtoin
paragraph134.5mustincludetheindividualdefendantswhowereresponsiblefortheBoard
MeetingsandBoarddecisionsinquestionandforDomino'sfailuretorepaythedebttoMonilen
or Bellway seeparagraph134.5,137and138.
40.Inparagraph134.6thecomplaintismadeaboutthefailuretosignthemanagementagreement
ortojointlyshareprofitsofmanagement,matterswhichlayinthehandsofMrZisserandthe
individualdefendantswhoweredirectorsof BEA and/orDescaandthuscontrolled BEA
andDominoandtheactualeffectuationofthesematters.
41.Thusparagraphs134.5and134.6arenotclaimssolelymadeagainst BEA .
42.Whilstthebodyofthepleadingcouldbereadasincludingcontractclaimsby Bellway
against BEA ,theeffectofparagraphs35ofthepleadingisspecificallytoexcludesuch
claimsfromTelAviv2.WhilsttherewasadifferenceofviewbetweentheexpertsonIsraeli
lawinrelationtotheimpactoftheseparagraphs,norelevantcanonsofconstructionwereput
forwardformetotakeintoaccountinconsideringthelanguageused.Icanseenoinconsistency
inapleadingwhichsetsoutclaimswhereanumberofdefendantsaresaidtobejointlyor
severallyliablebutwheresomeofthoseclaimsarespecificallynotpursuedagainstone
particulardefendant.
43.Inthiscontext,thereisnodifficultyinreadingparagraphs35asdoingwhattheysaytheydo,
namelyexcludingfromthedeterminationoftheIsraelicourtanyissuesbetween Bellway
and BEA whicharetobedeterminedinarbitration.Thereisnoinconsistencybetweenthe
balanceofthepleadingasformulatedandthoseparagraphs.Thoseparagraphsgovernthe
readingoftherestofthepleadingsothat,although BEA isnamedasadefendant,noclaim
isbeingpursuedby Bellway against BEA inTelAviv2whichshouldproperlybe
arbitrated.
44.TherewasmuchdisputeastowhetherornotMrRazinwasinthepleadingmakingapersonal
claimagainst BEA incontract,since BEA contendedthatinnopartofthepleadingis
thereanyreferencetocontractobligationsbeingowedtohimpersonally,asopposedto
Bellway.Bellway maintainedthataclaimwasbeingmadebyMrRazinandthatthiswas
partoftheexplanationforthepresenceof BEA asadefendant.WhilstinTelAviv1,
BEA allegedaclaimagainstMrRazinpersonally,thelatterhasalwaysmaintainedthathis
onlyliabilityto BEA wasasguarantorof3particularobligationssetoutintheTermSheet.
Thisisreiteratedinthepleadingandnowhereinparagraphs5372ofthepleadinginTelAviv2
isthatpositionchangedorisitsuggestedthatthereareanygroundsforapersonalclaimbyhim
against BEA .
45.UnderSectionD(4),headed"theAgreementbetweentheParties",itisallegedthatthemain
pointsofagreementreachedinnegotiationson7and8DecemberweresummarisedintheTerm
Sheetdated7December,althoughsomechangeswerethereaftermadetothestructureofthe
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transactionassetouttherein.Atparagraph66.8,theplaintiffscaseissetoutthatMrRazinonly
assumedresponsibilityasguarantorofthreeof Bellway 'sobligations,whilstatparagraph
68itwasstressedthatMrZisserwasnotonlyinvolvedineachandeverystageofthe
transactionbutmadeallthedecisionsrequiredandthateveryclauseincludedintheTermSheet
wasformulatedandagreedbyhimandeverythingthatwasdoneinthetransactionwasdone
withhisapproval.
46.Paragraphs56and57setoutanagreement,priortotheTermSheet,onthemainpointsofthe
transactionbetweenMrRazinandMrZisser,butnotanagreementbetweenMrRazinand
BEA .Thereis,inmyjudgment,nobasispleadedforanypersonalcontractclaimbyMr
Razinagainst BEA ,althoughMrRazinand Bellway maketortclaimsagainstMrZisser
andothers.
47.Onthefaceofthepleading,MrRazinhasaclaiminconspiracyagainst BEA andtheother
Defendantsinrespectofhisowninterests(andunderIsraelilawaccordingtoProfGoshen)and
hisinterestsincludehiscontrolof Bellway andMonilenandtheiremploymentbyhimas
pleadedinparagraph7ofthepleading.Hemaythereforebeabletoestablishpersonallossin
respectoftheconspiracywhichdeprived Bellway oftheDominosharesandthemoney
owingtoMonilenbyDomino,thoughnoneisexpresslypleaded.Monilentoohasaclaimin
conspiracyinrespectofthelosswhichisexpresslypleaded,namelythenonpaymentby
Dominoof$600,000plusinterest,which BEA andsomeoftheotherdefendantsbytheir
actionsin"stealing"DescaandcontrollingDominohaveprocured.Whilstthereisobvious
overlapinthelossclaimed,thatisnoreasonwhysuchaclaimcannotbebroughtbyMrRazin
andMolinenandthataloneissufficienttoexplainthepresenceof BEA asadefendant.
48.IfindthereforethatalthoughthepleadingassertsvariousclaimsbythePlaintiffsagainstmany
parties,noneofthoseclaims,asamatterofIsraelilaworlanguage,canproperlybesaidtobe
solelyaclaimby Bellway against BEA whichfellwithinthearbitrationagreement.
49.Furthermore,evenifsuchRazinorMonilenclaimsagainst BEA arenottobefoundinthe
pleading, BEA 'sinclusionasadefendantwouldstillnotbesufficienttooverride
paragraphs4and5ofthepleading.If,contrarytowhatIhaveheld,therearenoclaimsbeing
madeagainst BEA byanyPlaintiffotherthan Bellway ,ProfessorBeinmaintainedthat
theinclusionof BEA asadefendantmeantthattheIsraeliCourtwouldhavetodetermine
claimswhichweremadeagainstit.IamunabletoacceptProfessorBein'sviewoftheeffectof
joining BEA asadefendantontheIsraeliCourtandthesuggestionthatthecourtwould
ignoreparagraphs4and5anddetermine Bellway 'sclaimsagainst BEA regardless.
ProfessorGoshen'sviewwasthattheIsraelicourtwouldreadthepleadinginthewaythatI
havehelditshouldberead,sothatitwouldnotconcernitselfwith Bellway 'sclaimsagainst
BEA ,evenifsuchwereincludedinthebodyofthepleading.Iaccepthisevidenceonthat,
asaccordingwithcommonsenseandwithwhatthepleadingsays.If BEA shouldwishto
seekclarificationintheIsraelicourtortostrikeoutorstayanyclaimwhichisarbitrable,it
wouldbeopentoittoapplytodoso.
50.Itissaidby BEA thattherearenoclaimsagainst BEA byPlaintiffsotherthan
Bellway andthismustmeanthat BEA isadefendantto BEA claimsinTelAviv2.
Evenif BEA wasrightinitspremise,thisreadstoomuchintotheinclusionof BEA as
aDefendant.Whethertheconceptofanominaldefendantagainstwhomnoclaimispursuedis
knownorunknownintheIsraelilegalsystem,theinclusionofadefendantwheretheplaintiff
saysintermsthatitisnotpursuingthatdefendant,cannotnegatethecleareschewalofsuch
claims.ItshouldbeborneinmindthatbothMonilenandMrRazinweresuedby BEA in
TelAviv1,andinparagraph1ofthepleading, Bellway soughtconsolidationofTelAviv1
andTelAviv2. BEA 'sinterestsareundoubtedlyaffectedbytheclaimsagainstother
defendantsandissuesdecidedinTelAviv2wouldimpactonitsinterests,whichmightwellbe
seenasgoodreasonforjoinder.
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51.ProfessorBeingoessofarastosaythatdecisionsagainstthedefendantsotherthan BEA
couldorwouldconstituteresjudicataagainst BEA andthatthisinitselfmeansthatthereis
abreachofthearbitrationagreement.ThatdoesnotrepresentEnglishlawhowever. Bellway
cannotarbitrateagainstentitieswhicharenotpartytoanarbitrationagreementwithitandhas
nooptionbuttolitigateagainstthemwhilstpursuing BEA inarbitration.Ifissuesofres
judicataorissueestoppelariseinrespectofthefirstdeterminationbyeithertribunalof
overlappingissues,thatwillhavetobethesubjectofdeterminationbytherelevanttribunal
thereafterfacedwiththeproblem.Thiscannotgiverisetoanysuggestedbreachofthe
arbitrationagreementhowever,sinceitcanonlybethelawsuitofonepartytosuchan
arbitrationagreementagainstanothersuchpartywhichbreachesthatagreement,regardlessof
theconsequencesofotherstakingproceedings.
52.Thuswhere Bellway saysintermsthatitisnotpursuing BEA inTelAviv2,thereisno
basisforgainsayingthat,whatevertheexactformoftheclaimswhichappearthereafterinthe
pleading.Moreoverif Bellway shouldseektochangeitsstanceandpursuesuchclaims,it
wouldbeopento BEA toreferthemattertotheIsraelicourtwhichontheevidencebefore
mewouldnotallowdeparturefromthepleadeddisavowalofclaimsby Bellway against
BEA unlesstherelevantparties,bywordorconductagreedtothatcourse.Suchalater
courseofactionon Bellway 'spartwouldnothoweveraffectthecurrentpositionon
repudiationorbreach.
53.Sinceparagraphs35of Bellway 'sParticularsofClaimareeffectivetoexcludethe
arbitrableclaimsfromthedeterminationoftheIsraelicourt,Iholdthattherehasbeennobreach
oftheagreementtoarbitrate,letaloneanyrepudiatorybreach.
Conclusion
54.Forallthesereasons BEA 'sapplicationmustfailand,subjecttoanyspecialconsiderations
ofwhichIhavenotbeenmadeaware,costswillfollowtheevent.Iftherearespecial
circumstancestotakeintoaccount,nodoubtthepartieswillletmeknowandthemattercanbe
arguedattheformalhandingdownofthisjudgment.Ifnot,perhapsthepartiescouldagreea
formoforderwhichfollowsfrommydecision.
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