Consultancy firm, Trevor Hamilton and Associates, has started court action to recover more than $71 million from the National Transport Cooperatives Society (NTCS) for professional services and loans.

The firm has asked the Supreme Court to order that the payment is deducted from monies due to be paid to the NTCS by the Government this month.

In 2009,  the NTCS won at the Privy Council, a long legal battle against the government over the termination of its contract to operate in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region.

The local Appeals Court later ordered the government to pay the NTCS $1.8 billion.

The amount was however revised to $1.1 billion following an agreement between the parties.

Trevor Hamilton and Associates claims that it provided professional services for the NTCS during the period of the legal battle.

It also says there was an agreement for the NTCS to pay $100 million for those services.

According to Trevor Hamilton and Associates, it had loaned the NTCS $15 million.

A portion of the legal and professional service fees was reportedly paid leaving a balance of $71 million after interest was added.

The consultancy firm has asked the Supreme Court to declare that the NTCS is obliged to pay over the amount owed.

It has also suggested that the payment should be made from accounts of the NTCS and from the sums the government is due to pay the group this month. 

The firm, has suggested to the court that if those measures do not work, it should order that the law firm Bailey, Terrelonge and Allen, which represents the NTCS, pay over the amount owed.

The consultancy firm is represented by Aon Stewart who is instructed by Knight, Junor and Samuels. 

The case is set for hearing on November 11 in the Supreme Court.