The former owners of Charlton Athletic Football Club have lost a lawsuit brought by a Los Angeles-baed property developer who alleged he was induced into a property deal through false representations.
Darius Khakshouri sued Tony Jimenez and Kevin Cash, who co-owned the club between 2011 and 2013.
Khakshouri lent the pair £1.8m in 2013 at the height of the club’s financial troubles, while the owners were looking for a buyer, according to a judgment handed down at the High Court in London on 20 December.
Khakshouri claims he was persuaded into making the loan by Jimenez, a personal friend. Jimenez told him that he and Cash were majority shareholders in the club, and they would ensure that Charlton would not be sold without a deal being in place to set the club up in a new stadium and mixed-use development on Greenwich Peninsula, near the O2 Arena.
However, when Charlton was sold to current owner Roland Duchatelet in January 2014, no such deal took place.
The case was heard in October, and High Court judge Mr Justice Green gave judgment in favour of Khakshouri today.
“On the evidence, I find in favour of Mr Khakshouri,” he said in the ruling. “I am satisfied to the relevant standard that Mr Jimenez did make the two representations referred to and he did so on his own behalf and that of Mr Cash. He made those representations knowing they were untrue and to induce Mr Khakshouri to make the loan.”
He ruled that Jiminez and Cash were liable to Khakshouri. Damages have yet to be calculated. The judge said the parties should start working out their “proposals”.
