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Lawyer Rob Moodie says a letter from the Crown Law Office demanding he pay legal costs of nearly $50,000 or face bankruptcy is "blatant harassment".
Dr Moodie, 69, said he did not have "$50,000 lying around to pay court costs", but had offered to pay $10 a week out of his pension. Under the Law Practitioners Act, bankrupt lawyers lose their practising certificate but can apply to have it reissued.
The money owed related to contempt proceedings taken against Dr Moodie by the Solicitor-General.
Dr Moodie had published the suppressed "Butcher report" on the internet in his fight to clear the names of King Country farmers Keith and Margaret Berryman over a fatal bridge collapse.
In February, he was found guilty of contempt, fined $5000 and suspended from practising law for three months. A supporter paid the fine but he still owes thousands in outstanding costs.
Dr Moodie said the office asked him in February or March to pay up as soon as possible.
He received the latest letter, dated June 21, on June 26 and was asked to pay the full amount by 4pm, June 28, or face bankruptcy proceedings "without further notice".
The letter, he said, was a deliberate attempt to intimidate and distract him at a critical point in the Berryman case. The office was trying to remove him from practice and leave the Berrymans without counsel.
"It's blatant harassment to prevent me acting for the Berrymans in their proceedings which are set down for hearing on September 3," he said. "I will not be intimidated in this way by the courts, by the Government or anyone else."
A Crown Law spokeswoman refused to comment.
- NZPA
