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John Hawkins
Sir Tim Shadbolt is in legal trouble for Invercargill Council.
Invercargill Council’s costs in a legal battle against former Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt have topped $280,000.
“As of September 30 … the council has paid a total of $281,000 in legal fees to fight Sir Tim Shadbolt’s request that the council pay for the court case he won,” said a spokesperson for the council.
Shadbolt was accused of defamation by city councilor Karen Arnold in 2018. But after a long trial he was acquitted.
Rewards were awarded on Shadbolt’s side, but could not be returned as Arnold was later determined to be a pawn.
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He asked the city council in 2018 to pay his fees under a fee schedule in the Local Government Act, but the council refused to do so, as but his insurer, Riskpool, has refused.
Shadbolt later took court action against the council in 2020 to recover the costs, before Riskpool joined the proceedings.
In addition to seeking an order requiring him to pay, Shadbolt claims the county was negligent in failing to provide insurance coverage that would have provided him with compensation or failing to challenge the Riskpool’s initial rejection of an insurance claim made by the council.
Robyn Edie/Stuff
Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt and city council leader Clare Hadley at the council meeting in early 2021 [file photo].
In October, council chief Clare Hadley said Riskpool had been approached for protection in April 2015, when Shadbolt was charged with fraud. , and before he went to court.
“Sir Tim requested that the council and Riskpool cover the costs of the protection, but this was ultimately rejected and he was advised against spending his costs.”
The case between Shadbolt and the council will go before the High Court in Kent on February 1, 2023.
To understand that discussions are ongoing between the lawyers for the parties involved to resolve the matter.
Shadbolt’s 24-year run ended in October when he defeated Nobby Clark in the local party elections.
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