$13,500 bill for sacked lawyer

A Nelson lawyer sacked by the Department of Conservation has been ordered to pay her former employer $13,500.

The Employment Relations Authority last year said the department was justified in dismissing Sue Grey.

DoC sought to recover nearly $82,000 in legal fees but yesterday the ERA said Ms Grey should pay $13,500.

She was employed by DoC while she was representing a client whose company, Saxmere, was seeking to sue the Wool Board.

The legal team named the Attorney-General as part of proceedings.

That led to Ms Grey's dismissal for having a conflict of interest between her role as a DoC lawyer and also taking part in proceedings against the Attorney-General.

Ms Grey claimed Supreme Court judge Bill Wilson might have been biased because he had been in a business relationship with the QC representing the Wool Board's Disestablishment Company.

The Supreme Court eventually said he should not have sat on the Saxmere case and sent it back to the Court of Appeal.

Ms Grey has challenged her dismissal and the case will be heard in Christchurch in April or May.