Grimshaw & Co is celebrating ther Court of Appeal victory in respect of the multi-million dollar negligence claim against the firm over Auckland’s notorious Spencer on Byron leaky building saga, which we reported about two years ago.
Originally, the High Court had ruled that Grimshaw & Co’s advice to delay urgent repairs had left apartment owners facing bigger bills, hammering the firm with more than $3 million in damages.
But the appeal judges weren’t convinced. Their decision overturned the hefty penalty, finding Grimshaw & Co had not fallen short of professional standards. For many in New Zealand’s property sectors, this is more than a win, but a clarion call on how courts view lawyers’ responsibilities in complex leaky building disputes.
Leaky building cases are notoriously fraught, where timing, technical advice, and client best interests collide.
The Court of Appeal’s judgment gives legal advisers renewed confidence that carefully considered legal strategy may be shielded from post-facto criticism if delivered in good faith.
Grimshaw & Co’s robust defense and ultimate success have set a new benchmark for legal advice in the industry and reminds us that expert legal counsel remains its strongest asset for those dealing with these expensive, complex issues.
