PHOTO: John Kirk-Anderson – New homes in Rolleston were only half-built when Stonewood Homes collapsed in 2016.
The liquidators of the Stonewood group, one of New Zealand’s largest home builders with franchises around the country, are suing directors Jim Boult and Brent Mettrick for alleged reckless trading and other breaches. They deny any wrongdoing. Martin van Beynen looks at the case for each party.
If and when the Stonewood case comes to trial, spectators can expect some bitter exchanges between lawyers and witnesses.
Until then, the best insight into what is alleged to have happened in the sad demise of this once proud business, resides in papers filed in court to start the action.
When claimants sue in a civil case, they lodge a statement (of claim) setting out the assertions they make to state their case. The defendants, if they decide to fight the claim, then lodge their own statement (of defence) setting out their answers to the assertions made in the statement of claim.
READ MORE VIA STUFF