High Court Dismisses Overpayment Case Filed by De Verteuil

In a ruling delivered on February 23, 2026, Justice Frank Seepersad of the High Court, dismissed a judicial review filed by Carol De Verteuil, a Community Development Officer previously assigned to the Ministry of Sport and Community Development. De Verteuil had been on extended sick leave, during which she received her full salary. The Ministry later reclassified portions of her leave to half pay and then to no pay. This resulted in an overpayment of $130,924.75. De Verteuil’s salary was halted and steps were initiated to recover the overpaid sum. She filed a judicial review claiming she was denied natural justice as she was not given a chance to be heard before the reclassification of her sick leave and the decision to stop her salary and recover the overpayment. The court found no statutory requirement to invite representations before reclassifying sick leave and that the Permanent Secretary’s authority under guidelines is discretionary. It also ruled that the recipient of mistaken payments cannot rely on natural justice to retain funds not legally owed.

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