In a recent development, the committee representing retired businesswoman Rita Humphries-Lewin has decided to cease legal proceedings against Barita Investments Limited, its parent company Cornerstone Group, and its senior executives, Deputy Chairman Paul Simpson and CEO Jason Chambers. This action follows over a year of contention, during which the Lewin-appointed committee had questioned the integrity of a 2021 transaction involving shares in both Barita and Cornerstone.
The Lewin committee, led by Karl Lewin, Humphries-Lewin’s husband, officially documented their intent to discontinue the legal case in an agreement appendix observed by the Jamaica Observer. In this documentation, the committee extended a formal apology to Simpson, Chambers, and both companies, indicating that “further information and documentation” had clarified the committee’s initial concerns surrounding the sale of Mrs. Humphries-Lewin’s shares.
For Simpson, the conclusion of the legal dispute brings a profound sense of relief. “We’ve been exonerated,” Simpson shared with the Business Observer, emphasizing that the accusations had not only impinged on personal integrity but also disrupted Barita’s business opportunities. “It’s a significant moment for us, not just professionally but personally, too,” he remarked.
The origins of the legal dispute trace back to 2022, when Humphries-Lewin’s niece, Deborah Mordecai Edwards, raised concerns about her aunt’s mental capacity to conduct the transactions and alleged that there had been inadequate legal consultation. At the time, Cornerstone attempted to mediate by offering to reverse the transaction, though this proposal was ultimately declined in favor of a higher monetary settlement request.
The 2021 transactions at the center of the dispute had seen Humphries-Lewin divesting 28.2 million shares in Barita and subsequently acquiring 1.4 million shares in Cornerstone, the parent company. Cornerstone, which holds over 74 percent ownership of Barita, continues to play a significant role in Jamaica’s financial landscape, with Barita itself managing over $128 billion in assets.
In its concluding statements, the Lewin committee acknowledged the potential damage caused by its actions, noting that the allegations had cast doubt on the reputations of Simpson, Chambers, and their companies, and had drawn attention from relevant regulatory bodies. Efforts to reach Karl Lewin for additional commentary were unsuccessful.
