Spanish Grand Prix rider and Olympian Morgan Barbançon has reached an agreement with the equine clinic Domaene Karthus of Dr. Victor Baltus following the legal seizure of her number one Grand Prix horse Girasol by writ of sequestration in January 2017.
Barbançon's legal team, led by lawyer Wibe Reddingius, made the following statement:
On 30 January 2017 the German Veterinary Clinic of Dr. Victor Baltus completely unlawfully and without warning seized the Grand Prix horse Girasol of Morgan Barbançon stating that Barbançon had a serious amount due to the Clinic.
Barbançon does however not owe a penny to the Clinic and never did. The seizure documents contain invoices of the Clinic in name of Barbançon. Barbançon did not know the invoices. The Clinic has never sent invoices to Barbançon.
It now appears that it is most likely that forgery of documents was committed by or in name of the Clinic. The new invoices are newly formatted invoices, this time in the name of Barbançon.
The clinic has informed by telephone Barbançon’s Father on 7 February 7 that the invoices are made up in the name of Barbançon on its attorney’s, Mr. Wensing, advice, to be able to seize the horse Girasol in the Netherlands.
The original invoices were in the name of one of Barbançon’s sponsors. Apparently it was secretly attempted to create a remedy in the Netherlands under the pretext that Barbançon was debtor of the Clinic.
Recently, through the intermediary of Barbançon’s father, good agreements were made with the Clinic and the seizure of Girasol is already lifted. Barbançon now considers declaration of forgery with the authorities.
Baltus' Lawyer Reacts
Stephan Wensing, the lawyer representing Dr. Victor Baltus, reacted to Reddingius' statement as follows:
"Mr. Baltus is taken aback by the allegations brought against him. After all Mrs. Morgan Barbanςon had instructed Dr. Baltus to treat her horses. All treatments have taken place in Germany and the Netherlands with Mrs. Barbanςon herself present. Upon request of Mrs. Barbanςon all invoices were sent to a company called Mestre situated in Switzerland. After payment remained non forthcoming, Dr. Baltus approached Mrs. Barbanςon in her capacity as client and owner of the horses and urged her to pay abovementioned invoices. These invoices indeed had to be adjusted; this has not been done secretively. Confiscation of the horse Girasol was lifted by Dr. Baltus after payment of outstanding sums was resumed by Barbanςon. Mrs. Barbanςon is therefore able to compete the horse. Interestingly, payment of the outstanding sums had not been initiated by the firm that Mrs. Barbanςon originally referred to, but another sponsor."
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Morgan Barbançon's Girasol Seized by Writ of Sequestration
Morgan Barbançon and Girasol Find Their Stride at the 2016 CDI Deauville
Girasol to Morgan Barbancon Mestre