Colin Craig has been ordered to pay costs after an attempt by him to sue an ex-employee for defamation was rejected by the Court.
Stuff on 31 July: Judge throws out Colin Craig’s bid to sue former employee for defamation
Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has been dealt another blow at court, with a judge throwing out his attempt to sue a former employee for defamation.
Judge Gary Harrison said at the Auckland District Court it would be a waste of time to let the embattled businessman proceed with his attempted legal action.
“I have serious misgivings that it would be appropriate to keep these proceedings alive,” Harrison wrote, in a decision released on Monday.
Craig claimed he had been defamed by Jacky Stiekema, who previously worked as a trust accounts manager for his company Centurion Management Ltd, and he sought $240,000 in damages.
Judge Harrison concluded it was highly unlikely court proceedings would prove Stiekema wrong in her denials, and said the Facebook comments in themselves did not warrant defamation proceedings.
He wrote that only one other of Stringer’s 200 friends responded to the message thread, and Stiekema’s remarks would have had little impact.
“I regard the effect they would have on Mr Craig’s reputation as minimal,” he said.
“The costs associated with a trial that would occupy the order of five days, perhaps more, are simply not justified.”
RNZ yesterday: Colin Craig ordered to pay $17k in costs to woman he tried to sue
Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has been ordered to pay more than $17,000 in costs to a woman he tried to sue for defamation.
In a decision released today, Judge Harrison awarded Ms Stiekema $17,600 in costs.
Whale Oil has posted Colin Craig smacked with costs, used law suit for “ulterior motive”
What Colin Craig did to Mrs. Stiekema is awful. He is out for vengeance and flailing away at anyone who dares speak the truth about him.
I agree that what Craig tried to do here was awful.
I also think this is awfully hypocritical of Cameron Slater, given how much vengeful flailing he has been associated with in the courts, as unsuccessfully as Craig was here.
This unsuccessful flailing by Craig should serve as a deterrence to anyone trying to use the courts to shut truth telling up.
The courts are starting to wise up to his multiple law suits and to why he is doing it.
That reminds me of someone else.
Your NZ 
Tipene
/ 2nd September 2017It will go to appeal, most likely be overturned, and then Stiekema will be up for even more money.
Boy, being mates with John Stringer is bloody costly, isn’t it?
Albert
/ 2nd September 2017Ever the loyal lickspittle aren’t you Tipene?
Being mates with Colin is expensive too, especially when you are joined to law suits for involvement in defaming people like [Deleted, trying to identify people is not allowed here. I suspect you wouldn’t be keen on me implying your identity ‘Albert’. PG]
Pete George
/ 2nd September 2017It’s kind of ironic that you have commented here Albert, considering this comment from you in June:
Sounds a bit like how Slater describes Craig’s abuse of the courts.
Pete George
/ 2nd September 2017Sitting and waiting to ‘collect months of data’ suggests no concern over the effects of what has been said. Any blogger who knows how things work knows that if they think they have been defamed they take immediate steps to get comments removed.
Sitting and collecting ‘data’ suggests more of a vengeful motive to me.
Tipene
/ 2nd September 2017The [deleted] uses “loyalty” and “lickspittle” in the same accusation, which just tells me that “Albert” doesn’t know the meaning of either word.
“Slater with money”………….hmmm………….yet to see that combination.
“Slater with begging bowl”? Yes, seen that.
“Slater overinflating readership of his blog”: Yes, seen that too.
[Deleted – don’t make assertions like that without evidence. I’m not aware of evidence of that. PG]
“Slater ever relevant outside his own ego echo chamber”: Yeah, Nah.
spanishbride
/ 2nd September 2017I would appreciate it PG if you removed [Removed. PG]
Tipene
/ 3rd September 2017All good Pete. Proof heading your way.
Patzcuaro
/ 2nd September 2017You have to wonder how Craig made any money as a businessman, he seems to spend it as there is no tomorrow.
This trait of being very narrowly focussed, if you get it just right in business, must be useful but things could equally rapidly turn to custard if you get it slightly wrong.
At the moment he just seems to be digging a deeper hole.
You can see certain similarities here between Craig & Banks, they are both blinkered and very stubborn. Obviously works in the right circumstances.
Patzcuaro
/ 2nd September 2017His lawyers have certainly hit the jackpot dare I say from a jackass.
Kitty Catkin
/ 2nd September 2017Oh hahaha, the wit !!!
Let’s hope that the music has stopped in this game of Musical Courtcases.