Settlement reached for unpaid legal fees

The case of a prominent Northland lawyer who took a businessman to court over unpaid legal fees has been settled.

However, details of the settlement between Wayne Peters and Malcolm John Daisley and son Scott can not be reported as they are confidential to the parties.

Mr Peters filed proceedings in the High Court in Whangarei for alleged breach of contract by Malcolm and Scott Daisley over their non-payment of $43,804 for legal advice rendered between July 2009 and March 2010. Legal advice was provided to Malcolm Daisley and a number of companies he was a shareholder of including HPL Distribution, HPL Northland, North Harbour Ltd, SDD Ltd, and Hawkes Bay (2000) Ltd.

Mr Peters told the High Court this week he was first approached by Malcolm Daisley to assist him in defending an application by Blackbird Finance to liquidate HPL Northland and North Harbour Ltd.

It was not until later that he said he became aware the father and son were both shareholders in a number of companies.

Mr Peters said he and his firm, Wayne Peters Lawyers, received a variety of instructions from Malcolm and Scott Daisley in a short period of time.

However, invoices issued by him have not been paid because Malcolm and Scott Daisley failed or refused to pay.

WWP Trustees 2009, of which Mr Peters was the sole shareholder and director, lent $150,000 to the companies Malcolm Daisley was a shareholder in to help pay off Blackbird Finance.

Mr Peters rejected claims by Malcolm Daisley that he had failed to ensure security was registered over rock crushers owned by Daisley prior to the repayment of funds to Blackbird Finance.