Law firm receives protest payment

11th March 2010

Far North retiree Art Hansen reckons there are only three certainties in life - death, taxes and having to deal with lawyers.

Mr Hansen's latest dealing with the legal profession has left him with a bucketful of protest - $6,239.25 in coins he used to pay a bill with Whangarei law firm Thomson Wilson.
Mr Hansen and wife Judith, from Pakaraka, were ordered to pay  the money by the disputes tribunal after they had earlier lost a court judgement opposing the bill.

The couple say they were given a quote of no more than $3000 from a former Thomson Wilson lawyer for him to fight to recover an alleged $60,000 debt.

They lost the debt-recovery case, but ended up with a bill for more than $10,000 - thousands more than the quote.

The Hansens fought the bill in court but lost.

The court found the company did not give the couple a firm quote - it was the former Thomson Wilson lawyer - and ordered the couple to pay up.

Thomson Wilson partner Michael Badham said it was fair to conclude  the Hansens were not happy with the court ruling, but the company was abiding by the ruling.

"If he wants to make a protest by paying it in small denominations we will accept that and move on," Mr Badham said.

He said the Hansens were trying to cause some negative publicity for Thomson Wilson and while paying in coins would cause the company some minor difficulties, it was his right to do so.