Edited transcripts of Vancouver attorney Randy Wittchen, representing the Soviets, cross-examining Pat Quinn on circumstances of club missing agreed-upon transfer payments to Soviets for Igor Larionov.
Wittchen: Are you aware that there were problems with the November (1991) payment with Larionov?
Quinn: No.
Wittchen: Were you aware of a newspaper article that appeared in Vancouver Province December 31?
Quinn: Now that you mention it, Burke did make it known to me. And apparently Faminoff, through a local reporter, indicated that there was a problem with the payment.
Wittchen (introducing Province story as evidence): This is a report from Mr. (Tony) Gallagher of The Province dated December 31, 1991 . . . Are you aware that one of your officials of your organization on January 1, 1992 gave an interview to another reporter (Vancouver Sun reporter Elliott Pap) that in fact this was untrue, all payments were up to date on Larionov?
Quinn: It was our assumption that we were on time; I don't do the accounting, I don't stay on top of each cheque that goes out.
Wittchen: This direction to your bank, I notice your name appears here but not your signature. Can you identify the signatures that are on here?
Quinn: One is (director of finance) Carlos Mascarenhas and the other is Burke.
Wittchen: In fact on Dec. 31, 1991 the Vancouver Canucks were in arrears is that correct?
Quinn: Yes.
Wittchen: I will suggest to you that the only reason this payment was made is because it was very embarrassing at this hearing.
Quinn: I disagree with that. We have messed up on payment in June (1990) and we messed up here . . . the fact that you have suggested we weren't going to be paying our debt is offensive.
Wittchen: This is for the amount of $206,250. What does that represent?
Quinn: A lot of money.
Wittchen: . . . Do you know what schedule of payments that represents?
Quinn: I assume the final ones according to the schedule.
Wittchen: If you look at the transfer fee agreement there are certain schedule fees, and the schedule of fees are July 10, 1991, Nov. 10, 1991, Jan. 10, 1992 and March 10, 1992.
Quinn: November was missed. What does Gallagher or Faminoff say?
Wittchen: The information that we had is that two payments, the July (1990) and November payments, have been missed, were late, hadn't been made on time. But interestingly enough this (the Canucks' fee transfer) seems to be for more than is due and owing. . . . Does that not suggest that this was a pre-payment of the March 1992 payment?
Quinn: It appears likely.
Wittchen: I will suggest to you that the only reason these payments were made was in response to that newspaper article and to rehabilitate what had gone on with Larionov whom you admitted has played fine. You haven't had a problem . . . The first four (payments) were made in a timely fashion, is that correct?
Quinn: To my knowledge, yes. I was made aware of this story by Gallagher, I believe I was in Los Angeles at the time it came out.