Worldclaim
Global set up in Christchurch six years ago to help property owners negotiate
earthquake claims with their insurers.
Now the US-based company is chasing its local manager Guy Sayers
alleging he is fraudulently diverting work to his own company.
Global obtained High
Court pre-trial freezing orders over Mr Sayers assets together with a search
order permitting independent investigators to trawl through his business
records. It said there is a risk Mr
Sayers might shift all his assets out of New Zealand. He is a US citizen, married to a South
African and has control over several New Zealand bank accounts. He does not appear to own any real estate in
New Zealand.
Global claims Mr Sayers
is fraudulently diverting work to his new company set up in May 2017: The
Claims Consultancy Company Ltd. Mr
Sayers claims Global owes him some $208,000 in unpaid commissions. A full court hearing is needed to decide
these claims.
The High Court was told
there is evidence Mr Sayers advised some Worldclaim clients to invest their
insurance proceeds in Arena Capital, then trading as BlackfortFX. Arena investors have lost much of their
money; the company operated as a Ponzi scheme.
Worldclaim
New Zealand Ltd v. Sayers – High Court (19.05.17)
17.049
17.049
Post Judgment Note: The freezing order over Mr Sayers' assets was discharged by High Court order on 15 October 2018. Worldclaim advised the High Court in October 2020 that it was abandoning its claim against Mr Sayers in New Zealand, instead taking legal action in New York.