Chad Eckert Agrees to Drop Criminal Case Against Gustavo Cardenas

During the dispute between Gustavo Cardenas and Chad Eckert, Cardenas reportedly removed the cotton and seed to another location away from the farm. This prompted Eckert to file a criminal complaint against Cardenas. However, according to Eckert’s Attorney, Darrell Bradley, as part of the settlement, the criminal charges will be dropped in good faith.

Darrell Bradley

Darrell Bradley, Attorney for Chad Eckert

“The criminal charges I think just in good faith will be dismissed. We are quite pleased with the approach that the judge took. We are quite pleased with the settlement that occurred and we would be quite happy; we did give an undertaking to learned counsel from the other that we would undertake to have those charges remitted and the matter settled in accordance with the court order. Essentially what this is, is my client orders a cotton farm and he hired to manage the farm. There was a dispute that arose as a result of the produce, who own want. I think that the agreement could have been better drafted to avoid conflict. It wasn’t. But the parties chose to go to court. My client felt that because the claimant took certain actions in removing the cotton and seed to a certain location that that amounted to a criminal offence. But I think in hind sight the matter could have been settled long time ago. At that time lawyers were not involved. We only took up the matter when the matter was in court. We went to mediation. We tried to see if we could settle it, when we did a half day of court it was obvious that the matter should proceed in a particular way which I think the judge invited us to consider that and that was proper. In respect to the criminal proceedings I think that those would withdrawn with some degree of swiftness.”

Cardenas was represented by Attorney Stacey Castillo. Apex Events Limited is the management company of the Belize City Civic Center. Eckert is the owner of the company.