Tel Aviv District Court Judge Eitan Orenstin has ordered Eduardo Elsztain and Moti Ben-Moshe to respond to Nochi Dankner's latest allegations by February 2. The judge expressed astonishment that Dankner filed his motion to void Orenstin's decision on IDB Holding Corp. Ltd. (TASE:IDBH) through Shmuel Cassouto and Guy Noff, who were Orenstin's partners before he was appointed a judge over 12 years ago.
"I find it astonishing that the petitioners found it fit, at this late stage and after a ruling in the case, to hire Cassouto Noff & Co. Law Offices instead of Vardi Leshem Ron, Law Office to represent the Dankner group since the day of the ruling. Shmulik Cassouto and Guy Noff know perfectly well that because they were lawyers and partners with me at the Y. Segev & Co. Law Offices, before I was appointed a judge over 12 years ago, It is my custom not to hear cases they handle."
As for the appeal, Orenstin ordered Elsztain and Ben-Moshe and the IDB bondholders trustees to respond within a week. The Israel Securities Authority was given a two-week extension to respond.
Dankner has also asked the Supreme Court for an extension until February 19 to file his appeal against Orenstin's decision to transfer IDB from him to Elsztain and Ben-Moshe.
On Wednesday, Dankner asked the court for a new hearing on the case and for Orenstein's decision to be voided, claiming he had "a powerful document with new information of great public interest."
"This is another recycling of the mendacious and manipulative statements that have already been examined. Xtra Group wishes Mr. Dankner success in the future," stated Xtra Holdings GmbH owner Moti Ben-Moshe, in response.
Adv. Shmulik Cassouto said, "We weren't hired so that the judge would disqualify himself. For Eitan Orenstin to continue is no problem."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 23, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014