CASO BANCO LATINO MIAMI - TESTIMONIO DEL DR. MARIO PALENZONA, MIEMBRO DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA E INTEGRANTE DE LA FAMILIA DE FUNDADORES DE LA INSTITUCIÓN
Q. And could you tell us, sir, what your how you regarded him as a professional, as a banker. A. I think of Dr. Gustavo Gomez Lopez as an excellent banker, a very serious, a very ethical and competent banker.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA MIAMI DIVISION
CASE NO. 95-1300-CIV-HIGHSMITH BANCO LATINO INTERNATIONAL, U.S. Corporation, Plaintiff,
vs.GUSTAVO A. GÓMEZ LÓPEZ, MARIA TERESA PULGAR, FOLCO FALCHI TIBERI, ELOY MONTENEGRO SALOM, GIACOMO LEON, PEDRO GILLY, CLAUDIA CORDERO FEBRES DE GOMEZ, and ANTONIO UGUETO TRUJILLO, Defendants.
VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION OF MARIO PALENZONA
100 Southeast 2nd Street 3400 NationsBank Tower Miami, Florida
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
10:35 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.
A. My father and my uncles were founders of Banco Latino back in the 1950s.
Q. So your family has been involved — was involved in Banco Latino since the bank was started?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And that was in the `50s?
A. That was in the `50s.
Q. And did a member of your family sit on the board throughout that — since the bank was founded?
A. Actually, both my uncle and my father.
Q. Okay. So your family has a long history with Banco Latino?
A. Indeed.
Q. Are you — in what capacity did you serve at Banco Latino? Was there any other capacity other than as a board member?
A. No, sir. I was an external board member at the beginning as an alternative or substitute director. And then when my father started becoming more ill, I took the place as a principal director.
Q. Are you familiar, sir, with Dr. Gustavo Gomez Lopez?
A. Yes, I know him.
Q. And how is it that you know him?
A. I know him through the bank. Through the Banco Latino in Caracas. That’s where we first met.
Q. And how long had you known Dr. Gomez Lopez?
A. Since I entered the bank practically.
Q. Okay. Are you familiar with the positions that he held at Banco Latino Caracas?
A. Only with those that he held when I entered the bank.
Q. Okay. Were you aware that Dr. Gomez Lopez had been working at Banco Latino Caracas for most of his professional life for over 18 years?
A. I understand that he worked for a long time at Banco Latino.
Q. Did you understand also that he kind of worked his way up the ladder, working in numerous different positions within the organization?
A. That’s what I understand, sir.
Q. Did you have any — did you have the pleasure to work with him while he was president of Banco Latino Caracas?
A. Yes –MR. GOODMAN: Excuse me. Objection to the form of the question.
Q. Did you work with Dr. Gomez Lopez while he was president of Banco Latino Caracas?
A. Yes.
Q. And could you tell us, sir, what your — how you regarded him as a professional, as a banker.
A. I think of Dr. Gustavo Gomez Lopez as an excellent banker, a very serious, a very ethical and very competent banker.
Q. During the years that you have known Dr. Gomez Lopez, have you ever known of him being involved in any questionable business practices?
A. Not at all.
Q. Any fraudulent schemes?
A. Not at all.
Q. Have you known of him ever receiving any inappropriate personal benefits through his
24 association with any of the Banco Latino companies?
A. Absolutely not.