Post by Brent George on Sept 26, 2022 20:36:51 GMT
Developer loses $14m 'extortion' claim against Arrowtown neighbours
Stuff - Business: 23-Sept-2022
High profile developer Chris Meehan’s $14 million claim against neighbours he says were trying blackmail him has been struck out by the High Court.
Waterfall Park Developments Ltd, a subsidiary of Meehan’s company Winton, claimed the damages against neighbours James and Rebecca Hadley.
Justice Gerald Nation heard the civil action in the Invercargill High Court in March and his judgment was released this week.
Amongst its claims, Waterfall Park said the Hadleys’ property was subject to an encumbrance that prohibited the owners from objecting to particular types of development.
The company gave seven examples of the Hadleys making submissions on the Waterfall Park plans, and being involved in appeals over the zoning of the land and tree planting.
An earlier Environment Court decision found the Hadleys’ involvement was not subject to the encumbrance because of the type of development proposed at Waterfall Park.
In regard to the mediation concerns, Meehan wrote in an affidavit that he saw the Hadleys conduct during mediation as amounting to “extortion or blackmail”.
Stuff - Business: 23-Sept-2022
High profile developer Chris Meehan’s $14 million claim against neighbours he says were trying blackmail him has been struck out by the High Court.
Waterfall Park Developments Ltd, a subsidiary of Meehan’s company Winton, claimed the damages against neighbours James and Rebecca Hadley.
Justice Gerald Nation heard the civil action in the Invercargill High Court in March and his judgment was released this week.
Amongst its claims, Waterfall Park said the Hadleys’ property was subject to an encumbrance that prohibited the owners from objecting to particular types of development.
The company gave seven examples of the Hadleys making submissions on the Waterfall Park plans, and being involved in appeals over the zoning of the land and tree planting.
An earlier Environment Court decision found the Hadleys’ involvement was not subject to the encumbrance because of the type of development proposed at Waterfall Park.
In regard to the mediation concerns, Meehan wrote in an affidavit that he saw the Hadleys conduct during mediation as amounting to “extortion or blackmail”.