(Trinidad Express) Former national football coach Russell Latapy has withdrawn a lawsuit against the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for more than TT$5 million in compensation after both parties arrived at an out-of-court settlement.
Latapy had filed action against the TTFA in October of 2011 after claiming the money represented the salary owed to him and compensation for being wrongfully dismissed.
When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Frank Seepersad at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain on Wednesday, attorneys representing both sides informed the court of the agreement. Details of the settlement however were not made public.
Latapy was seeking salary in the sum of US$424,278, plus interest, from April 8, 2011, at a rate of six per cent per annum.
He was also seeking damages for wrongful dismissal, in the sum of US$402,852, with interest at six per cent per annum.
Interest at a rate of 12 per cent per annum was also being sought on any sums awarded from the date of judgment to the date of payment.
On April 15, 2009, Latapy was hired as head coach. The contract was run until November 30, 2009, on terms which included the payment of a base salary of US$33,571 per month.
This country’s national team’s bid to reach this year’s World Cup came to an end in November 2011, under German Otto Pfister, but Latapy had argued he agreed to stay on as a coach until another formal agreement was arrived at between himself and the TTFF.
Latapy says TTFF general secretary Richard Groden and then special adviser Jack Warner entered into an oral agreement with him to continue serving as a coach for two years, from March 2010, at the same salary.
The agreement provided no provision for its termination by either party. However, his contract was terminated on April 8, 2011.
Latapy was represented by attorney Derek Ali while the TTFA was represented by Anthony Bullock.