An estranged couple been told that they must wait another eight months before their battle over money can be fully aired before a divorce court judge.
Barbara Cooke and Michael Parker, directors of BC Softwear a firm which supplies towels and bathrobes to top hotels have been told that their hearing will now take place in October.
Mr Justice Holman says he regrets that the wait will prolong the strife for Ms Cooke and Mr Parker and prolong a difficult situation for their employees.
Mr Justice Holman said the Family Division of the High Court has to work to a calendar and that the dispute is jostling for space with “more needy” cases.
Mr Justice Holman said, “Sometimes a case seems to expand like Topsy, and an estimate, which was given in good faith at an earlier stage, begins clearly to be inadequate.
“These parties seem to be locked into a titanic dispute in which, to date, no quarter seems to be given by either of them.”
He added, “All these factors, cumulatively, lead me very firmly to feel that I, at least, could not resolve this case in the seven days.
“I appreciate that it prolongs the strife, and prolongs what may be a very difficult situation, not only for the parties but for the employees of the company.
“The fact is that the courts do have to work to a calendar.
“This case is jostling for space with many other even more needy cases concerning abducted children, children kept from their parents.
“I cannot, in all conscience, remove other cases from the list in order to enlarge the available time.
“The first available date when a judge can give two clear weeks for this case is 15th October 2018, and that is when it will be re-fixed.”
