Rich-listers’ family dispute laid bare
Up until 2007 the agreement was adhered to, her claim said.
Since then Chris and Michael Huljich had breached the agreements ‘‘and failed to financially assist’’ their mother, Elizabeth Huljich claimed.
Daniel McLellan, QC, acting for Christopher, Peter and Michael Huljich, told the court the allegations were ‘‘inherently implausible’’ and it was ‘‘extremely unlikely’’ the brothers would have agreed to provide her with unlimited financial support for the duration of her lifetime.
Elizabeth Huljich also sent Chris Huljich a letter in 2012 that she no longer needed his help, McLellan said.
Elizabeth Huljich claims Christopher Huljich’s actions left her in a state of ‘‘mental and emotional distress’’ and she was seeking damages totalling $475,000 and exemplary damages of $50,000, plus interest.
She also claims Peter Huljich fraudulently misrepresented details to her in relation to the $750,000 and was seeking the same amount of damages from him for ‘‘mental and emotional distress’’.
In 2011 Peter Huljich and his company, Huljich Wealth Management, was convicted and ordered to pay $447,000 for undermining public confidence in the KiwiSaver market and misleading investors by using his own money to artificially inflate the performance of the company’s KiwiSaver fund.
In defending Elizabeth Huljich’s allegations the three men are seeking for a series of paragraphs in the applications to be struck out.
In his decision, Associate Judge Warwick Smith granted the application to strike out some paragraphs of Elizabeth Huljich’s claim. She was also ordered to provide further details on certain other claims before the case heads to trial on July 9.