VANCOUVER, May 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Finavera Wind Energy Inc.
('Finavera') (TSX-V: FVR) announces that the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench has issued
reasons for judgment in the case of Scott & Associates
Engineering Ltd. ('Scott') v. Finavera Wind Energy Inc.
Scott was claiming a constructive trust over a
wind energy project known as the Three Hills Project ('Three Hills'), which Finavera acquired from
Penn West Petroleum Ltd. in 2007 and subsequently sold to Ghostpine
Windfarms LP, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc ('NextEra'), in
2008. Scott alleged that Finavera acquired Three Hills by misusing confidential
information proprietary to Scott and that it misappropriated a
business opportunity which belonged to Scott.
The Court dismissed Scott's claims and found
that Finavera did not misuse any confidential information, did not
breach any contract with Scott and did not misappropriate a
business opportunity belonging to Scott. The Court also
refused Scott's claims to a proprietary interest in Three Hills or an accounting of the profits
from Three Hills. The Court
concluded that "Scott has proven only that it is entitled to be
reimbursed for the value of the services it has provided…" It
found that the appropriate award to Scott for those services was in
the amount of $600,000.
Finavera continues to have a holdback of $1,000,000 with NextEra related to the 2008 sale,
in order to deal with legal costs and any potential judgment.
In describing the testimony of the principal of
the Plaintiff, Bryan Scott, the
Court stated: "Mr. Scott was clearly trying to put a positive, even
hopeful spin on what was occurring. In certain instances, the
presentation of his evidence through the lens of his preferred or
desired result worked against his credibility …at other times, his
testimony was internally inconsistent."
Finavera will be reviewing its legal options in
relation to the judgment and will determine if further action is
necessary.
Jason Bak,
CEO
About Finavera Wind Energy Inc.
(www.finavera.com)
Finavera Wind Energy is a company focused on developing,
constructing and operating wind farms in North America and Ireland. Our mission is to create and operate
a diversified portfolio of wind projects while protecting and
enhancing the physical and social environment. In British Columbia, Canada, four projects
totaling 300 MW have been awarded 25 year AAA-rated Electricity
Purchase Agreements and one has received full environmental
approval and permitting for construction, expected to begin in
later 2013. In Ireland, the
Company has signed a partnership agreement with SSE plc for
development of the 105MW Cloosh Valley Wind Project. Finavera is
continuing to opportunistically review prospects for growth and the
enhancement of shareholder value.
Statements in this news release, other than
purely historical information, including statements relating to the
Company's future plans and objectives or expected results,
constitute Forward-looking statements. The words "would", "will",
"expected" and "estimated" or other similar words and phrases are
intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking
information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results,
level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different than those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
information. Such factors include, but are not limited to:
uncertainties related to the ability to raise sufficient capital,
changes in economic conditions or financial markets, litigation,
legislative or other judicial, regulatory and political competitive
developments and technological or operational difficulties.
Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements.
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the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
SOURCE Finavera Wind Energy Inc.