Allegations of negligence against Auckland law firm Corban Revell have lead to a $7 million lawsuit from a former Queenstown property developer, The Sunday Times reported at the weekend.
The $7 million lawsuit comes after a relationship property settlement turned sour for former Queenstown man Gavin Hillary.
The claim is against two current Corban Revell partners Alan Goodwin and Lawrence Ponniah and three former partners Shona de Luen, Alan Duncan and Warren Woodd.
Hillary’s statement of claim, filed in the High Court, alleges the Family Court has already determined Corban Revell obtained invalid court orders that allowed the unauthorised sale of a prime piece of Queenstown real estate – owned by Hillary – to Auckland company Norcross Investments Ltd.
Hillary had earmarked the Park St site for a multimillion-dollar backpacker development.
According to his statement of claim, Hillary separated from his wife in 1997 and was ordered to pay her about $255,000 after a relationship property settlement hearing before Judge Blaikie in Alexandra District Court in 2001.
Hillary’s wife was represented by de Luen, who worked for Corban Revell at the time. The judge asked Corban Revell to draft orders reflecting his decision, which were sealed in the Alexandra court on August 30 that year.
