LOBBYIST and former politician Julian Grill is one of two businessmen to win a $606,000 WA Supreme Court judgement against mining speculator Ron Morellini over misrepresentations he made while promoting the proposed float of Meridian Mining.
Justice Peter Blaxell found Mr Grill and another businessman, Henry James Adams, both represented by Steven Penglis from Freehills, would not have invested in Meridian shares except for misrepresentations made by Mr Morellini, a former real estate agent, including the timing of the float and proportion of shares to be held by interests associated with the respondent.
The court ordered Mr Adams to be paid $505,000 plus interest, while Mr Grill is to receive $101,000 with interest.
In his judgement, Justice Blaxell stated that Mr Morellini, represented in the Supreme Court by Martin Bennett of Lavan Legal, admitted lying to the Wardens Court when aiming to take control of leases that were to become the key assets of Meridian.
“There is ample evidence to show that he was devious and dishonest in many of the dealings the subject of the evidence,” Justice Blaxell found.