Arm-wrestle for dispute resolution

Arm-wrestle for dispute resolution

Mobile radio network operator TeamTalk is trialling a new technique for dispute resolution. The Wellington based telco (19.9% owned by Telecom NZ) has been in dispute with MCS Digital RT Ltd over access to their networks but there won’t be any lawyers and protracted legal proceedings in this argument. TeamTalk has challenged MCS Digital RT Ltd to settle this with an arm wrestling contest.

TeamTalk CEO David Ware has issued a challenge to his counterpart Allan Cosford which he says is dead serious. “ We are offering MCS Digital RT Ltd a concession to their demands in this dispute but Allan has to pin me to the table in an arm wrestle first “. And there is real money at stake, Mr Ware estimates that losing this best of three competition could cost the company $200,000-$300,000 but he says that the cost of prolonging the dispute is probably just as high in the long term.

“We can battle on and on and the only winners will be lawyers. This way we can have some fun and get on with doing business” says Mr Ware.

Whilst MCS Digital RT Ltd haven’t responded officially to the challenge - delivered to them by an actor appearing in their Auckland office and throwing down a gauntlet - indications are that MCS Digital RT Ltd will take this challenge in the spirit it was intended and despatch their CEO to take part in the duel.

The time and date for the contest, that Don King would undoubtedly drool over the promotion rights to, is not set but TeamTalk insists that it must be very soon. “We are suggesting some time in the next week. We don’t want any last minute training going on “.

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