Barrister Greg Jones was ordered to pay a $14,900 legal bill owed Hamilton solicitors Stace Hammond after the High Court dismissed his allegations that the law firm was in league with the bloodstock industry, conspiring to damage his breeding programme.
In December 2018, Mr Jones hired Stace Hammond to defend a claim against him by Wentworth Grange, a thoroughbred stud farm near Cambridge. Wentworth was suing for unpaid agistment fees. Stace Hammond did some preliminary work which was later overtaken by Mr Jones putting forward a draft statement of defence. Mr Jones was alleging in his defence that Wentworth was party to fraud and dishonesty. Stace Hammond withdrew, saying it could no longer represent him. Rules governing operation of law practices prohibit lawyers from raising defences of fraud on behalf of clients unless there is solid evidence to back the allegation.
When Mr Jones refused to pay its bill for the preliminary work done, Stace Hammond proposed writing off the debt but was forced into court when Mr Jones sued them alleging Stace Hammond was also part of a general bloodstock industry conspiracy against him. Mr Jones said Stace Hammond’s clients included other horse studs in the district. In agreeing to take him on as a client, Stace Hammond was acting unethically and in breach of obligations of good faith, he alleged. There was evidence that the issue of potential conflicts of interest had been raised at a preliminary meeting between Mr Jones and Stace Hammond. At that point Mr Jones raised no concerns about Stace Hammond having a number of horse stud owners on its client list.
The High Court confirmed a District Court ruling that Mr Jones had no tenable defence to Stace Hammond’s invoice for work done. He was ordered to pay the $14,900 bill.
Jones v. Stace Hammond – High Court (27.01.22)
22.031