Gloriavale leaders get new lawyer after claiming they couldn’t afford one: 1News

By Ryan Boswell | 1News |

After claiming they couldn’t afford legal representation, Gloriavale leaders have turned up at the Employment Court with a new lawyer, sparking a war of words and delaying proceedings.

Carter Pearce is now representing the West Coast commune in a dispute over whether six former residents, who are all women, are employees or volunteers.

Brought in after 10 weeks of evidence and with final submissions about to start, Pearce said he was “rather late to the game”.

Gloriavale leaders had been representing themselves after they ditched their former lawyer Philip Skelton halfway through the hearing, claiming they could no longer afford the legal fees.

Gloriavale leavers lawyer Brian Henry said he only learnt about Carter Pearce at 4.23pm on Sunday, less than 24 hours before the hearing resumed.

“He must have known he was coming. He has been involved through the whole time as far as we are concerned, the second defendants have misled us.

Further reading: Gloriavale leaders get new lawyer after claiming they couldn’t afford one