DOCTOR TOOK US TO THE CLEANERS
PRACTICE TO GO INTO LIQUIDATION OWING THOUSANDS TO LOCAL FIRM
A TOWNSVILLE medical centre closed its doors yesterday after a court found it owed more than $ 92,000 to a local cleaner.
Kirwan clinic My Family Doctors, whose director Dr Praveen Kumar is currently suspended from medical practice and on bail for unrelated criminal charges, was ordered by a court into liquidation.
The clinic was last month ordered to pay $ 92,224 to Vinesh Prasad, the owner of A1 Clean Team in Townsville Magistrates Court. Mr Prasad made a statutory demand for payment within 21 days, which the company did not comply with. My Family Doctors was then presumed insolvent and Mr Prasad, through his lawyers, applied for a winding up order.
A TOWNSVILLE medical centre closed its doors yesterday after a court found it owed more than $ 92,000 to a local cleaner.
Kirwan clinic My Family Doctors, whose director Dr Praveen Kumar is currently suspended from medical practice and on bail for unrelated criminal charges, was ordered by a court into liquidation.
The clinic was last month ordered to pay $ 92,224 to Vinesh Prasad, the owner of A1 Clean Team in Townsville Magistrates Court.
The cleaner was owed money from September 2014 to early last year, which his lawyer William Evans said had caused “significant hardship” for the owner and his family. “Despite the non- payment, the business has managed to continue trading,” he said.
Mr Prasad made a statutory demand for payment within 21 days, which the company did not comply with.
My Family Doctors was then presumed insolvent and Mr Prasad, through his lawyers Connolly Suthers, applied for a winding up order.
Justice David North heard the app plication in the Supreme Court in Townsville yesterday. Barrister Rowan Pack appeared for WorkCover Queensland, a supporting creditor as it is owed $ 5444 by My Family Doctors. He and Mr Evans provided affidavits and documents to the court.
Solicitor Paul Gray, for My Family Doctors, applied to adjourn the hearing yesterday.
“I have no material at this point, I was dragged into this matter at 8pm last night and asked to appear this morning,” he said.
“I understand ( Dr Kumar’s) intention is to appeal the decision of the magistrate in the District Court.”
Mr Pack and Mr Evans objected to My Family Doctors tendering unsigned documents.
“This application’s been on foot for several weeks now, Your Honour, it’s been filed, there was certainly ample opportunity to address the matters during the 21- day period,” Mr Pack said. “There should have been an agreement reached, or an attempt for an agreement reached.”
Justice North said when a business has been presumed insolvent there must be “extraordinary circumstances” for the company not to be wound up. He made the winding up order and appointed a liquidator, Robert Humphreys of BRI Ferrier.
A liquidator may close a business or trade with a view to selling it.
Yesterday afternoon, staff at the clinic were turning patients away and a sign on the door stated My Family Doctors had closed. “Please watch daily newspaper for dates and re- location,” the sign read. Dr Kumar declined to comment. Dr Kumar’s medical registration was suspended last year after it emerged he allegedly had sex with a patient and fathered a child with another.
He is due back in Townsville Magistrates Court on December 5 facing unrelated criminal charges. He has been charged with choking a woman, four counts of assault, wilful damage, threatening violence and two counts of assault causing bodily harm.