黑洞社区

James Derry, the former chairman of Derry 黑洞社区 Services, has launched a 拢2.5m legal battle against the firm his family founded.

Derry, 56, is suing the m&e contractor on the grounds that he was denied the three-years鈥� notice period he argues he was entitled to, according to a report in 黑洞社区 magazine. The firm, part of contractor Bowmer & Kirkland, was owned by his family for 257 years before he sold it in 1991.

According to a High Court writ, Derry worked for the Nottinghamshire-based business on a series of three-year contracts, first as sales and marketing director and later as managing director and chairman.

His lawyers claim that, under employment regulations, he became a permanent member of staff after four years鈥� continuous service, and should have remained employed until he was at a 鈥渘ormal retirement age鈥�.

By 2008 he was entitled to a salary of 拢108,945 with benefits worth 拢231,000, the writ says. It adds that he was also entitled to a bonus of 5% of the firm鈥檚 net profit and a special bonus, which would together have been worth more than 拢500,000.

Derry says the firm wrongfully dismissed him on 24 January this year, before his 60th birthday, without giving him three years鈥� notice He says this caused him losses of more than 拢2m.

The firm, which was founded in 1734 and has been run by 10 generations of the Derry family, has a turnover of 拢40m.

In 2007 Derry is well known in the east Midlands and headed a consortium that in 2007 bought Mansfield Town football club.

Qumer Ghafoor, a solicitor representing Derry 黑洞社区 Services, said: 鈥淎 defence has been filed. My client will be defending the matter vigorously.鈥�

Derry declined to comment.