Spanish Class Legal Action FAQs
As a member of the MRISG Members Only Forum you will be well aware the MRISG are organising a collective legal action against Darragh MacAnthony. The first action is already lodged with the courts in Spain and was discussed recently on this blog. These FAQs are to inform individuals of the opportunities and will answer some common questions to our lawyers about this next action.
Note for Darragh MacAnthony, former Directors of MacAnthony’s Companies and associated companies. It is only a matter of time now and is no longer if but when.
If you are an ex-director and wish to join forces as a prosecution witness as opposed to a defendant please contact MRISG. The same goes for any ex-employee who feels that they can contribute to the legal action your evidence may be invaluable and you will not be alone.
1. What case do I have?
In principle, everyone would have a civil against Martinez Echeverria Legal Independence (ME/LI) given that the conflict of interest would have rendered the legal representation service as “fake”. This would entitle anyone who bought through ME/LI from Macanthony (MRI) to bring an action, as they would be in this situation, for a refund of the legal fees paid towards the representation.
2. How about a civil case against MRI?
This would most certainly be a waste of time and money as these companies have been wound up and all but disappeared. However, it is clear that Macanthony ran his companies as a tool to be able to protect him from creditors, all the while flouting all regulations pertaining to fair trading, bookkeeping, accounting and not the least important, business ethics and morals. There is post about this legal angle at www.belegal.com, and it would entail bringing an action directly against Darragh Macanthony personally which, if successful, could see the winning party seizing his assets, including his football club.
3. How do the civil differentiate from the criminal?
The criminal requires intent to defraud and monetary loss, by concocting a preconceived plan to persuade people to part with monies AND such people sustaining losses. The civil case requires contractual default either by not performing the obligation in the legal representation contract or, where the contract would have been null and void “ab initio”, that is, from its inception, due to the impossibility to provide legal representation service, as is the case, quite simply because ME/LI were already working for the other party.
4. Who are the alleged defrauders?
In principle, MRI, Capital Partners and ME/LI, and the individual who caused financial harm either directly, as a principal, or as an accessory (accomplices, co-operators).
5. Would I qualify for criminal case?
If you bought a property that was never built, or you bought a property because you were told that you could get a mortgage, or on the basis of a “guaranteed rental”, or once the property was known to not be built you were charged money to move to a further one (“bait and switch”) or, if you chose not to change developments you were charged to get your deposit acknowledged, and charged for it (“credit note”), then there are strong grounds to believe that fraud intervened (fraud understood as theft by swindle and misappropriation). We will however advise on whether you qualify for one action or another on the basis of the paperwork you have given us and what you can provide us.
6. Who can determine in which position am I in?
A lawyer with knowledge of the modus operandi of the triad (MRI, CFP and ME/LI) would be able to tell you where you stand, legally. Currently, no more than a few lawyers have acquainted themselves with this case.
7. What is required to know where I am?
We will need a short description of your position, stating namely whether your property was built, and if it was built, if you were given a mortgage approval in principle by CFP that convinced you that you qualified to get a loan and therefore a property, if you were offered a rental package, if you were subjected to the bait & switch session and ended up paying for this bogus service, if you were given a “credit note” signed by Macanthony or any of his acolytes and ended up paying for this bogus service, and a number of other deceits that had, as a result, the loss (will attach a form for this).
8. Can I run both actions at the same time?
No, the criminal action takes precedence over the civil one and in fact, it already includes the civil one as part of the compensations requested. If you start a civil case and then file a criminal one, the civil case will be “stayed”, or interrupted, until the criminal one is finalized.
9. Can I just join a civil case and forget about the criminal one?
Certainly, not a problem.
10. If other claimants are pursuing via the criminal claim, will my civil claim be “stayed”, that is, stopped?
Each claimant sues individually and not as part of class action, which in Spain is reserved only to Consumer Protection Associations. Therefore, the answer is no, you can sue via the civil courts to obtain redress on your particular case.
11. Can we all join under one case?
Certainly, collective or joint actions are groups of claimants that sue together, within one claim that encompasses all other smaller ones. But in reality, there are as many claims as people claiming although they case is progressed as one unit.
12. What is required to file the suit?
a. Signed letter of engagement (to be advised on).
b. Power of attorney (to be advised on).
c. Supporting documentation proving your investment, with particular reference being made to: contracts signed with the developer or Macanthony, proof of payment of deposit, “bait and switch” documents, “credit note” documents, rental guarantees and mortgage approvals in principle.
d. Any correspondence you may have had with Macanthony employees.
13. What if I have already sent the paperwork and letter of engagement to another member of the claimants’ legal team?
There is absolutely no problem as all claimants will be joined under one action and the objectives and aims pursued are the same.
14. Where will it be filed?
Jurisdiction is still not determined but in principle, the main center of the activities carried out by Macanthony was Spain, in particular Marbella,
15. How long will the Court case take?
It is difficult to tell given the variety of results when this question is made. We have been involved in a Court case that has just settled, prior to hearing, after 10 years, in relation to timeshare resale scam (details can be found at www.lawbird.com). This is, however, an abnormal and exceptionally lengthy case that has slept in Court for years and therefore, it is not to be used as an example. Statistically, a Court of First Instance case in Spain takes up to 6.9 months, and a Criminal case 8.9 months. This is perhaps also optimistic as most case would be filed by one single claimant against one single defendant, as is not our case, and so I would therefore be more comfortable with increasing this forecast by twice as much, at least.
16. Do I need to come to Spain to sue?
No, it can be done with powers of attorney although there is a possibility, not insignificant, that the defendants decide to call the claimants/plaintiffs to give a statement and that therefore, they have to attend personally. This, although unlikely, is possible.
17. How much are the fees?
After some discussion, it has been proposed that a fee of 7% of the sums claimed, plus VAT (18%), would be appropriate, 50% of which would be payable in advance and the balance on successful recovery of the sums and provided the sum obtained covers the balance of the pending legal fee. With a view to facilitate the payment of the initial 50% of the legal fee for the action, the initial payment can be split as follows: –
On signing the letter of engagement: €500 –
Payment of balance staggered: 6 equal monthly payments.
18. What about translation costs?
We do not have an issue with English documentation as the lawyers are able to do the translation in-house, and therefore, no further fees are required. If the documentation is in any other language different from English, Spanish or French, they would need to have the documents translated. In principle, translations need not be official provided the other party does not challenge the validity of these, which may occur only of the quality of the translation is poor, inexact or, alternatively, they wish to introduce the challenge as a spurious delaying tactic (a move that may, ultimately, backfire on the defendants).
19. What is latest about the MRI and Martínez-Echeverría Association?
The Association has now been duly incorporated. This organization is a non-profit making entity that will have, among its aims, to assist and endorse the legal case to be filed with the Courts, exposing the wrongdoings committed by the above companies and individuals at different levels, inclusive of media, Government and judiciary. Any person can join the association and in due course, members will be advised on the sum of a small contribution to cover maintenance costs that will allow the association to carry out the actions required to attain its objectives.
20. What do I need to get started?
In principle, indicating your willingness to join an action against will suffice, by emailing the address contact@mri-sg.org, indicating your contact details. Upon receipt of it, we will forward you a short request for information that we will use to advise on the likelihood of joining one action of another. The documentation we will require is listed on point 12.c. We undertake to provide you with an answer within 10 working days in respect of the action you are most likely to pursue.
Please read these questions carefully – if you need to speak to someone personally send your contact details to contact@mri-sg.org and your details will be passed to a member of the forum who will call you personally to discuss.
If you want to be part of this legal action for justice – Now is the time to come forward!
Rest assured you need not fear any further threats from any member of the MRI group, their lawyers or directly from Darragh MacAnthony.
We also know they read this blog and strongly suspect they also read the members only forum illegally and/or pay others to supply information illegally. So they will be very aware they could be breaching UK and Spanish Law by trying to Harass, Intimidate or Bully you any more and they could be subjected to criminal proceedings relating to any such actions. They will also be aware they are in breach of copyright and federal hacking legislation if caught hacking the forum too.
Also be aware some of our members have had offers to settle their disputes or provide the service paid for and promised but the promises have proved to be just that and are not fulfilled or not what they thought was agreed. So please be aware of the MacAnthony methods and speak to the the lawyers before agreeing to anything.
MRI Credit Notes or Just Another Scam?
MRISG have received the following information about the Credit Note part of the MRI business. The credit notes were issued to people for various reasons but mainly because MRI failed to fulfil their contractual commitments to ‘Customers’.
These credit notes could be surrendered when buying another property through MRI. However, read the Pineapple Fields deal Dominic Pickering, who claims not to work for MacAnthony any more, arranged in July 2011despite all the MRI companies claiming to have folded or packed up trading in 2010.
Are You One Of These?
Problem Development | Issue Date | Credit Note € | Credit Note $ | Dollar Amount |
Panarama Bay | 10th May 09 | €5,000.00 | $7,100.00 | |
Vila Verde | 25th April 09 | €6,000.00 | $8,520.00 | |
Melbourne / SCBR | 6th June 09 | €7,245.00 | $10,287.90 | |
Santa Venere | 18th Nov 09 | €18,000.00 | $25,560.00 | |
Jardines Del Sol | 4th May 09 | $27,000.00 | $27,000.00 | |
Panarama Bay | 28th August 09 | €19,700.00 | $27,974.00 | |
Greenfield | 4th May 09 | €20,000.00 | $28,400.00 | |
Vila Verde | 5th May 09 | €20,000.00 | $28,400.00 | |
Aldeia Formosa | 14th May 09 | €20,000.00 | $28,400.00 | |
Vila Verde | 24th Sept 09 | €21,000.00 | $29,820.00 | |
Villa Verde | 4th May 09 | €22,000.00 | $31,240.00 | |
Stek | 15th Nov 09 | €22,000.00 | $31,240.00 | |
Royal Park | 21st August 09 | €23,700.00 | $33,654.00 | |
Silver Mountain | 02nd May 10 | €24,446.00 | $34,713.32 | |
Residencial Don Juan II | 15th June 09 | €25,000.00 | $35,500.00 | |
Royal Heights | 19th April 09 | €26,000.00 | $36,920.00 | |
Pirin Suites | 7th March 09 | €27,000.00 | $38,340.00 | |
Tierra Del Sol | 23rd August 09 | €27,000.00 | $38,340.00 | |
Onyx | 24th Sept 09 | €28,500.00 | $40,470.00 | |
City Residence | 25th August 09 | €28,633.00 | $40,658.86 | |
Jardin del Sol | 8th June 09 | €29,000.00 | $41,180.00 | |
Portofino | 9th May 09 | €30,000.00 | $42,600.00 | |
Lazemia | 27th Sept 09 | €30,000.00 | $42,600.00 | |
Don Juan | 20th April 09 | €34,000.00 | $48,280.00 | |
San Jose | 30th May 09 | €34,000.00 | $48,280.00 | |
SMR | 30th Apr 10 | €35,000.00 | $49,700.00 | |
SCBR | 30th June 10 | €35,575.00 | $50,516.50 | |
City Residence | 28th Nov 09 | €35,786.00 | $50,816.12 | |
Topaz | 28th August 09 | €35,822.00 | $50,867.24 | |
City Residence | 25th Nov 09 | €35,998.00 | $51,117.16 | |
Portofino | 11th May 09 | €36,000.00 | $51,120.00 | |
St Ivan | 19th August 09 | €36,000.00 | $51,120.00 | |
Pirin Park | 7th June 09 | €37,000.00 | $52,540.00 | |
Giardino Mediterraneo | 28th Oct 09 | €39,000.00 | $55,380.00 | |
City Residence | 2nd May 10 | €39,439.00 | $56,003.38 | |
Aspen Valley | 20th Sept 10 | € 39,553.00 | $56,165.26 | |
Santa Venere | 8th April 09 | €39,947.42 | $56,725.34 | |
Adelaide | 23rd Feb 09 | €40,000.00 | $56,800.00 | |
Silver Mountain | 24th Sept 09 | €40,000.00 | $56,800.00 | |
Residential Bavaro | 7th June 09 | $57,000.00 | $57,000.00 | |
Blaconi Zi Zambrone | 29th Oct 10 | €40,480.00 | $57,481.60 | |
Blaconi Zi Zambrone | 29th Oct 10 | €40,480.00 | $57,481.60 | |
City Residence | 25th August 09 | €41,178.13 | $58,472.94 | |
SCBR | 25th Feb 10 | €42,115.50 | $59,804.01 | |
Santa Venere | 16th May 09 | €44,000.00 | $62,480.00 | |
Katarina Spa | 7th June 09 | €44,000.00 | $62,480.00 | |
SCBR | 27th Feb 10 | €44,100.00 | $62,622.00 | |
City Residence | 30th August 09 | €44,224.66 | $62,799.02 | |
City Residence | 19th Sept 09 | €44,803.00 | $63,620.26 | |
Porto Fino | 14th May 09 | €45,000.00 | $63,900.00 | |
SCBR | 11th Mar 10 | €45,100.00 | $64,042.00 | |
SCBR | 29th Apr 10 | €46,250.00 | $65,675.00 | |
Aspen Heights | 25th Oct 09 | €46,871.00 | $66,556.82 | |
Giardino Mediterraneo | 28th Oct 09 | €47,000.00 | $66,740.00 | |
SCBR | 29th June 10 | €47,900.00 | $68,018.00 | |
Blaconi Zi Zambrone | 29th Oct 10 | €48,400.00 | $68,728.00 | |
Blaconi Zi Zambrone | 29th Oct 10 | €48,400.00 | $68,728.00 | |
Santa Venere | 20th April 09 | €49,500.00 | $70,290.00 | |
Flamingo | 6th April 09 | €50,000.00 | $71,000.00 | |
Pirin Suites | 1st June 09 | €50,000.00 | $71,000.00 | |
SCBR | 29th Apr 10 | €83,400.00 | $72,568.94 | |
City Residence | 13th August 09 | €52,110.00 | $73,996.20 | |
Panorama Bay 2 | 20th Aug 09 | €53,000.00 | $75,260.00 | |
Le Tercia Real | 4th April 09 | €56,000.00 | $79,520.00 | |
TDS | 14th June | €57,000.00 | $80,940.00 | |
Aldeia Formosa | 19th April 09 | €58,000.00 | $82,360.00 | |
Dom Rep | 17th Nov 09 | €59,700.00 | $84,774.00 | |
SCBR | 2nd May 10 | €62,888.00 | $89,300.96 | |
SCBR | 1st Mar 10 | €64,330.00 | $91,348.60 | |
City Residence | 28th August 09 | €64,500.00 | $91,590.00 | |
SMR- Deeds signed | 26th June 10 | €64,880.00 | $92,129.60 | |
City Residence | 24th August 09 | €64,885.20 | $92,136.98 | |
City Residence | 24th August 09 | €66,460.00 | $94,373.20 | |
SCBR | 27th March 10 | €68,000.00 | $96,560.00 | |
SCBR | 28th Feb 10 | €69,000.00 | $97,980.00 | |
City Residence | 13th August 09 | $100,000.00 | $100,000.00 | |
SCBR | 17th Feb 10 | €70,450.00 | $100,039.00 | |
SCBR | 25th July 10 | € 70,763.00 | $100,483.46 | |
SCBR | 27th Apr 10 | €71,000.00 | $100,820.00 | |
City Residence | 26th Oct 09 | €71,721.00 | $101,843.82 | |
Silver Mountain | 27th July 10 | €72,598.00 | $103,089.16 | |
SCBR | 23rd Feb 10 | €74,377.00 | $105,615.34 | |
Silver Mountain | 26th July 10 | €74,979.00 | $106,470.18 | |
Aspen Golf | 10th Sept 10 | €75,000.00 | $106,500.00 | |
Silver Mountain | 06th May 10 | €75,786.46 | $107,616.77 | |
Vila Verde | 26th August 09 | €76,000.00 | $107,920.00 | |
SCBR | 12th Feb 10 | €76,000.00 | $107,920.00 | |
SMR | 28th Apr 10 | €77,500.00 | $110,050.00 | |
SMR | 1st May 10 | €78,752.00 | $111,827.84 | |
SMR | 1st May 10 | €80,972.00 | $114,980.24 | |
SCBR | 28th Apr 10 | €83,500.00 | $118,570.00 | |
SCBR | 25th June 10 | €83,621.00 | $118,741.82 | |
Vila Verde | 26th Oct 09 | €84,000.00 | $119,280.00 | |
City Residence | 23rd Sept 09 | € 87,105.96 | $123,690.46 | |
SCBR | 13th Mar 10 | €88,785.00 | $126,074.70 | |
Silver Mountain | 23rd Sept 09 | €90,000.00 | $127,800.00 | |
Flamingo | 26th August 09 | €93,000.00 | $132,060.00 | |
Florida | 19th April 09 | €96,000.00 | $136,320.00 | |
Silver Mountain | 26th July 10 | €98,853.00 | $140,371.26 | |
Silver Mountain | 25th July 10 | € 99,603.00 | $141,436.26 | |
SCBR | 27th June 10 | €99,721.00 | $141,603.82 | |
SCBR | 27th June 10 | €100,500.00 | $142,710.00 | |
SCBR | 28th Feb 10 | €100,660.00 | $142,937.20 | |
Preserves | 16th Nov 09 | €106,000.00 | $150,520.00 | |
SCBR | 27th June 10 | €108,650.00 | $154,283.00 | |
Jardines Del Sol | 10th May 09 | €109,000.00 | $154,780.00 | |
SCBR | 1st May 10 | €109,710.00 | $155,788.20 | |
SCBR | 24th Feb 10 | €110,500.00 | $156,910.00 | |
Covera Golf | 28th Nov 09 | €127,000.00 | $180,340.00 | |
Aspen Suites | 16th Nov 09 | €129,708.00 | $184,185.36 | |
SCBR | 29th Apr 10 | €135,720.00 | $192,722.40 | |
Silver Mountain | 23rd August 10 | €135,844.00 | $192,898.48 | |
SCBR | 28th Apr 10 | €138,931.00 | $197,282.02 | |
SCBR | 13th Feb 10 | €142,814.00 | $202,795.88 | |
SCBR | 28th Feb 10 | €159,313.00 | $226,224.46 | |
SCBR | 14th Mar 10 | €172,981.00 | $245,633.02 | |
La Marinate & SCBR | 20th March 09 / 27th March 10 | €240,800.00 | $341,936.00 |
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Correct us if we are wrong Messrs Pickering and MacAnthony but we make this a total of $10,227,976.96 … That is just over Ten and a Quarter Million Dollars owed to 117, ecstatically happy customers who you have issued Credit Notes to. To add insult to their injury many of those customers even had to pay to receive these, apparently, worthless credit notes. Mr Pickering you will note the dates so all were issued when you were CEO so don’t be shy, your opportunity to reply is below.
What is worse, in the opinion of the MRISG, is many still don’t know they have been victims or the MacAnthony Corporation and are still being bombarded with ‘unbeatable deals‘ by phone and e-mail to cash the credit notes in just to be ripped-off again. Darragh have you offered any of them Free iPads or just the properties in Pineapple Fields with inflated prices?
If you are one of those unfortunate individuals who possess an MRI Credit Note you may want to read about the MRI Credit Note Deal with Pineapple Fields.
You may also want to join the MRI Support Group Members Only Forum.
If anyone knows any other resorts anywhere in the world where MRI are trying to offer properties to Credit Note victims contact the MRISG and we will investigate the validity and value of these offers.
Don’t Be An MRI Victim – Fight Back
Anyone who:
- Received a letter from Carter-Ruck on behalf of MRI
- Received threatening calls or e-mails from MRI
- Paid for furniture and did not receive it or was asked to pay VAT twice
- Paid for After-Sales and Rental packages from MRI and didn’t receive the services
- Paid to swop to another development (at meetings organised by MRI)
- Paid for a credit note signed by Darragh MacAnthony
- Was told misleading and inaccurate information by MRI and their associate companies about mortgages, developers and rental packages in order for them to sign reservation documents and then commit to a property purchase.
- Who has been bullied into signing confidentiality agreements in order to get a minimal refund
- Has lost money to MRI and any of their associate companies
- Who has been denied cooling-off time or the chance to consult independent advisors
Even if you have completed on your property (despite the distress that these companies have put you through) tell your story – help to make sure that companies like MRI are not allowed to abuse the UK regulations through complex company set-ups in multiple countries.
How many of you assumed that MRI was a legitimate company registered in the UK?

John Stapleton
How many of you assumed that because John Stapleton (a respected UK Consumer journalist) fronted an MRI promotional dvd that MRI would be a honest, ethical company that you could trust?
How many of you were taken in by the professional website and 24/7 TV channel?
Don’t let them get away with it – tell your story – let the whole world know and stop this happening to others.
Write to Adam Elmahdi of the Consumer Groups at the OFT
His e-mail address is adam.elmahdi@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Don’t let lethargy, embarrassment or fear stop you – there is strength in numbers and by joining forces you can succeed. Join the MRISG Private Members Only Forum to join the Criminal Class Action against Darragh MacAnthony and his network of companies, partners and lawyers.
It is worth knowing that MacAnthony, through his ex-CEO , Dominic Pickering, has tried to keep the voice of his victims hidden from the media using any tactics they could legally use and some not so legal methods. They have tried to flood the Search Engines with rubbish to push the MRISG website below the first page of all the search engines. However, the fact you found this site shows they have consistently failed. See some of the comical but ridiculous efforts MRISG have found HERE.