Penalty shoot-out competition winner wins lawsuit, awarded almost $1M

Alphonso Matthie, the winner of the Rumbar Rum Goal Score Competition in August 2013, was today awarded a total of $920,000.00 against Rumbar Rum, which is owned by St. Catherine-based Worthy Park Limited.

Matthie won the all-island penalty shoot-out competition which had a grand prize of $2,000,000.00

He received approximately half of the prize money and thereafter payments stopped.

He took the matter to court.

Worthy Park, at the trial in the Civil Division of the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, maintained that the company was only the title sponsor of the event and therefore not liable.

The company further asserted that the owners of Winners Entertainment, Simone Forbes and Andrew Wright, were the event organisers and promoters and were responsible for paying the prize money.

Under cross-examination, Worthy Park Managing Director Gordon Clarke admitted that he didn’t cause a disclaimer to be put in the advertisement neither did he indicate to the public that the company would not be responsible for payment.

Gordon further agreed that the advertisement made no mention of Simone Forbes or Andrew Wright and it maybe concluded that the competition was put on by Worthy Park Limited and Rumbar Rum.

Senior Parish Judge Opal Smith awarded judgement against Rumbar for breach of contract.

Matthie was represented by Attorney-at-Law Able-Don Foote instructed by Knight, Junor & Samuels.

Rumbar Rum was represented by the law firm Nunes, Scholefield & Deleon.

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