Keddies drops claim to pay $3.4 million in damages by instalments 
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Justinian in Around The Firms, Russell Keddie, Scott Roulstone, Tony Barakat

Build-up of verdicts in District Court for overcharging ... Keddies Three put on affidavits as to how poor they are ... Application for time payment withdrawn as prospect of cross-examination looms 

At last count 23 damages cases commenced in the NSW District Court by former overcharged clients have been settled with the Keddies partners. 

The total verdicts this year stand at over $3.4 million and so far the Keddies Three have not paid a cent. 

In fact, they applied to pay by instalments, putting on affidavits as to their financial position - which struck those familiar with the documents as "works of fiction". 

The Keddies Boys are all millionaires, particularly after the $35 million buyout by Slater & Gordon, payable in three instalments. 

The actions against Keddies are in damages for overcharging and fraud.  

A District Court registrar refused the request for time payment of the verdicts, and an appeal was notified. 

Stephen Firth, solicitor for the plaintiffs, indicated that Russell Keddie, Scott Roulstone and Tony Barakat would be required for cross-examination on their financial statements. 

Promptly they withdrew the application for payment over time. 

Throughout the entire Keddies' saga, the partners at each step of the way have steadfastly avoided going into the box for cross-examination.  

The highest outstanding judgment is for almost $400,000 plus costs in the Mahmoud Zoulfikar case and the smallest is for $10,000, inclusive, in the Rosalind Fryer case. 

More claims are banking-up. 

It would awful if any of the three went broke.  

See: Table of outstanding judgments against Keddies

See earlier report: Keddies latest trick 

Article originally appeared on Justinian: Australian legal magazine. News on lawyers and the law (https://justinian.com.au/).
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