Family at War Fight With Extradition and Caveats
Wellington criminal lawyer Paul Surridge, previously engaged in high-profile disputes over his late father’s estate, has lodged caveats on property held by his wife, Marion Pearson, following her extradition to Australia to face allegations of misappropriating more than AUD 4 million.
The Inland Revenue Department seeks to liquidate two cleaning product firms owned by Pearson, a former financial adviser, who was extradited to Australia last month to face 136 charges relating to alleged misappropriation of A$4.1 million (NZ$4.58m) from 13 clients over a five-year period.
The Supreme Court dismissed her final appeal against extradition in May, ending nearly a decade of legal efforts to remain outside the Australian jurisdiction.
Estate / Will Disputes Involving Surridge & Pearson
After the death of Surridge’s father, Wilbur “Lofty” Surridge, (pictured) acrimony arose among family members over control of the estate, including corporate and business interests. One article refers to more than NZD 90,000 in costs awarded to a “victor” in a contested will case.
Pearson had replaced her father-in-law as director of companies he had set up involving himself and his family.
A separate article refers to a “family at war” situation, where a judge rebuked a sister for attempting to “mop up” a cleaning business under the late father’s umbrella, implicitly disputing whether she had equitable rights to the assets or shares.
The disputes involved allegations that Pearson had been appointed to manage or exert influence over family businesses or assets while Lofty was declining in health, which other siblings challenged.
In one judicial result, a High Court voided a 2014 will on grounds of undue influence or irregularities, and Pearson was ordered to pay costs.
These disputes provide context to the financial and property entanglements between Surridge and Pearson well before the current criminal allegations.
Surridge’s Property Claim & Caveats
Immediately after Pearson’s extradition, Surridge lodged caveats over her Wellington properties — including the Mana Esplanade home in Paremata and a Pukerua Bay property. He says he filed to protect his former financial position. He told media that he and Pearson had been separated a long time and declined to state the precise sum he was claiming.
One of the caveated properties was already in the process of mortgagee sale, and others had caveats from financiers. The caveats filed by Surridge may compete with those registered by creditors or mortgagees.
Pearson’s Extradition & Charges
Pearson was extradited after five years of resisting Australian warrants through New Zealand courts. ASIC confirmed she faces charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, with alleged misappropriations between 2018–2020 totaling over AUD 4 million.
She appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court upon her arrival and remains on remand pending further proceedings. In parallel, New Zealand’s IRD has moved to liquidate companies linked to Pearson.
