Monrovia-Aggrieved workers of Bea Mountain on Monday, November 22, stormed the grounds of the Temple of Justice, protesting against what the called alleged action of one of Liberia’s outstanding law firms, Henries & Henries Law Firm to withdraw their case from the Supreme Court without their consent.
The aggrieved workers are currently in a legal battle with Bea Mountain over alleged bad labor practice, a case that had since surface at the Temple of Justice in 2016.
The group during their protest action noted that Henries and Henries Law Firm had been representing their legal interest in the case between them and the company’s management, but noted that they were reportedly informed by a source close to the Supreme Court that the law firm had allegedly illegally withdrawn their case without being informed.
The aggrieved workers through their spokesperson, Edward Gizzie did not state the name of his source but noted that the law firm should have consulted them before taking any decision as their legal interest.
He said the case was adjudged by the Supreme Court in their interest, but Bea Mountain had since requested to settle their concerns out of the court, which they have since refused.
“Recently, Bea Mountain agreed to pay our money, surprisingly, to us, Henries and Henries withdrew the case without our consent,” Gizzie stressed.
However, Gizzie further alleged that Henries & Henries, without informing the aggrieved, unilaterally agreed to Bea Mountain’s request to have the matter settled out of court.
He termed the alleged action as unprofessional and illegal, for which he want the Liberia National Bar Association to ensure that Henries & Henries Law Firm is shut down.
“We are going to write the Supreme Court about the act of Henries& Henries. We are calling on the Liberia National Bar Association and the Supreme Court to suspend Henries and He does for their act,” Gizzie lamented.
It can be recalled in 2016, Bea Mountain Workers Union took the Company to court for bad labor practices, but the case is yet to be given a final ruling by the Supreme Court.
When contacted, the Managing Legal Consultant of Henries &Henries Law Firm, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, in response to the allegation, termed it as false and misleading as well as unlawful.
He however consent to the worker’s assertion that Bea Mountain called for the withdrawal of the case, but because the aggrieved did not agree, nothing could be done unless a final ruling is ruling the case.
“Before the Supreme Court could come up with the first ruling, a conference was called between those aggrieved and the Management of Bea Mountain and the Supreme Court reserve ruling.”
Since the court reserve, ruling we have been in conversation with the Chief Justice on the matter and how can we go and withdraw the case in their absence,” Kruah opined.
According to Cllr. Kruah, the Supreme Court has reserved ruling in the case, as such, it was surprising that the aggrieved Bea Mountain workers whose interest the law firm seek would come out with such assertion.
The Liberian Legal Practitioner maintained that there are procedures in which the Henries & Henries Law Firm can withdraw the case, as such they cannot do so without the consent of the workers union.
“The stage the case has reached is the final stage and we are awaiting the Supreme Court to give a final ruling. We can never withdraw the case from the Supreme Court without consulting those who are aggrieved,” Cllr. Kruah noted.
Cllr. Kruah then urged the Bea Mountain Workers Union to remain calm, adding the case is in the interest of Henries and Henries Firm.
