Former Deccan Chargers chief executive wins case against franchise

Tim Wright, the former Deccan Chargers chief executive, has won his case of wrongful dismissal against the franchise and been awarded £10.5 million ($16million approx), plus legal costs, by the High Court in London.

Wright, who was formerly with IMG, joined the Chargers management after the first season of the IPL but was dismissed in January 2009 and began legal proceedings against Chargers and its parent company, Deccan Chronicle Holdings, the following month. Chargers had challenged the jurisdiction of the English court but Wright was granted the right for his case to be heard in the UK.

At Monday's trial, Judge Seymour ruled that Chargers had committed several breaches of their contract with Wright, including failing to provide him with his full salary, benefits and pension entitlements, failing to appoint him to the board of directors and failing to transfer to him an agreed equity share in the company. They were ordered to pay him his dues (£10 million) as per his contract, with interest.

The judge also called Chargers' conduct during the litigation 'disgraceful'; they had not attended the trial, after having submitted their case as defendants.

"Today's judgment is vindication of my decision not to be cowed by the bullying of a large corporation," Wright was quoted as saying after the trial's completion.

Officials of the Chargers franchise did not respond to ESPNcricinfo's requests for a comment.