Legal judgement against Impala African Safaris and Arnold Payne
Legal judgement against Impala African Safaris and Arnold Payne
Extract from a post called "Legal judgement against Impala African Safaris and Arnold Payne" by AH member Western Expedition. To read the post click here and to read the entire thread click here.
I've got some news. Arnold Payne from Impala African Safaris and I met in court yesterday. I have been pursuing a lawsuit for breach of contract against Impala African Safaris. The Judge ruled in my favor and awarded a cash judgment.
The spirit of the lawsuit focused on the fact that our contract specifically detailed that a fully licensed Professional Hunter would be available during my dangerous game hunt. And I paid a significant premium on the daily rate in order to hunt dangerous game. With no fully licensed PH in camp I could not legally hunt dangerous game. So the Judge ruled that the premium paid to hunt dangerous game should be refunded.
The investigator from Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife was extremely helpful. They even provided a letter detailing that they found Col. Watson Tshipa in error for being absent during my hunt and suspended his license until he satisfactory completed the paperwork necessary to legally export my plains game trophies. The letter also detailed that Mhlaseli Tshipa Ncube was working under a learners permit and could legally lead the plains game portion of the hunt. In an ironic twist, Arnold Payne from Impala African Safaris secured this letter and introduced it as evidence during the trial.
So I have gotten some justice and hope to receive payment for the cash judgment soon. Although it will never fully right the wrong I do feel some vindication in bringing the shady business practices of both Col. Watson Tshipa and Arnold Payne to light. As far as I know, Col. Watson Tshipa is still doing business in Zimbabwe as Pasat Safaris (aka Zimbabwe Safari Company) and Arnold Payne is still doing business in the U.S. as Impala African Safaris.
To all of you who have emailed or called with similar complaints against Impala African Safaris I can only send you my regrets. I know that he can be very difficult to deal with and I can only wish you the best in dealing with him from afar. His website lists that he will be at the Dallas Safari Club, Houston Safari Club and Safari Club International. Be sure to stop by his booth and say hello.
Impala African Safaris Trial in US Court System
Extract from a post called "Impala African Safaris Trial in US Court System" by AH member Western Expedition. To read the post click here and to read the entire thread click here.
1) I pursued Impala African Safaris in the US court system. Impala is incorporated in the same state that I live in. And we are also located in the same County. So I was able to pursue the case without the aid of an attorney through something called the Justice Court system. It is kind of like small claims court but represents larger dollars. The primary goal of the Justice Court system is to get parties to settle through mediation. But Arnold Payne refused to discuss settling during the mediation proceedings so our case went to trial.
2) I pursed Col. Watson Tshipa and Pasat Safaris directly with Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife officials through connections made with Safari Club International. Everyone that I dealt with at Zim Parks was very understanding, extremely professional and they moved FAST to create an acceptable solution to the problem. I have a lot of respect for their organization and have been nothing but impressed by their rapid pace and ability to get the job done.
A growing number of individuals have contacted me about problems that they have encountered while working with Arnold Payne at Impala African Safaris. Several have mentioned that they are pursuing him through the Safari Club International Ethics Complaint process. The calls have even included an extremely well known figure in the hunting industry. Nobody seems to be safe from this guy.
