DOC’S $90k BILL DUE
A KIRWAN doctor suspended last year over claims he had sex with a patient has been ordered to pay more than $ 90,000 in unpaid bills to a former cleaner. Cleaner Vinesh Prasad took My Family Doctors to court, alleging it had paid his invoices irregularly from 2014. My Family Doctors – run by director Dr Praveen Kumar ( left), who is also facing unrelated criminal charges – filed a defence saying Mr Prasad had forged the contract.
Townsville Magistrates Court ruled in Mr Prasad’s favour, awarding him $ 82,142.50 for unpaid invoices, $ 10,082 in interest as well as costs, which are to be determined.
A KIRWAN medical centre plagued by controversy has been ordered to pay more than $ 90,000 to its former cleaner.
Vinesh Prasad took My Family Doctors to court, alleging the clinic only paid his invoices irregularly from 2014 onwards.
My Family Doctors – run by director Dr Praveen Kumar, who is suspended from practice and facing criminal charges – filed a defence saying Mr Prasad had forged the contract.
Townsville Magistrates Court ruled in Mr Prasad’s favour on Wednesday, awarding him $ 82,142.50 for unpaid invoices, $ 10,082 in interest as well as costs, which are yet to be determined.
In documents filed with the court, Mr Prasad said his sole trader cleaning business A1 Clean Team serviced the medical centre from 2013.
He charged $ 1825 per 50hour working week.
“In September 2014, the payment of my invoices became sporadic,” he wrote.
Mr Prasad said he regularly asked Dr Kumar about missed payments.
“When I spoke with him about payment of my invoices he would always say to me words to the effect that ‘ the company is having financial difficulties, can you please bear with me and I will pay you when I can’,” he wrote.
Mr Prasad said on April 18 last year he texted Dr Kumar, saying he would no longer provide his services due to unpaid invoices.
He said Dr Kumar replied: “As per the agreement ( gentleman’s), I would hereby expect you to move out of my house ASAP!!”
A deed of compromise, completed in March and filed with the court, stated Mr Prasad and his wife Swastika live in an Idalia home previously owned by Dr Kumar.
Dr Kumar’s former partner Ranjana Rameshwar, who was the practice manager from 2010 until last year, provided an affidavit.
She said that in mid- 2014, she became concerned about My Family Doctors’ financial position.
She relayed her concerns to Dr Kumar that there was insufficient income to pay creditors.
“After that he directed me to only pay invoices if he had expressly approved the payment of them,” she said.
Ms Rameshwar said while Mr Prasad continued to send weekly invoices until early 2016, Dr Kumar did not regularly allow her to pay them.
Magistrate Howard Osborne made a summary judgment against My Family Doctors for breach of contract.
Dr Kumar’s medical registration was suspended last year after it emerged he allegedly had sex with one patient and fathered a child with another. The doctor was granted bail in March after he allegedly choked and menaced a woman with a knife.
Dr Kumar is charged with choking, four counts of assault, wilful damage, threatening violence and two counts of assault causing bodily harm.
He is due in Townsville Magistrates Court today in relation to those matters.