Source: Adelaide Now
One of South Australia’s richest men is being sued for not paying a bill for work he ordered on his mansion.
Tuna fishing magnate Hagen Stehr, who was worth $271 million in BRW’s rich list in 2008, is being pursued by a Port Lincoln engineering company for not paying the entire $41,606.27 bill for a stainless-steel hand railing fitted to his house in late 2009.
Court documents reveal Stehr has tried to settle the debt by paying half of it - but this has been refused by the company that did the work.
The documents reveal Stehr, who fell off this year’s rich list because of the plunge in the share price of his company Clean Seas Tuna after problems with its much-publicized bluefin tuna breeding program, has refused to pay the full amount for the hand railing because he believes he has been charged too much for the materials used and the work performed.
After failed settlement negotiations, the matter will go to trial in Port Lincoln Magistrates Court in October before Deputy Chief Magistrate Dr. Andrew Cannon.
The statement of claim reveals in June, 2009, Mr. Stehr had asked Peter Moukas, proprietor of Port Lincoln engineering company Oceancraft Enterprises, to make and fit the railing to his Lincoln Highway house - but there was no written agreement.
The work was completed in September, 2009.
In February last year, Stehr was sent an invoice for $41,606.27 for the work.
In May last year, Oceancraft offered Stehr a 10 percent discount on the bill - $4160.63 - to ensure “prompt payment†but Stehr still refused to pay.
In June last year, a formal demand to pay the discounted sum owing - $37,445.64 - was made on Stehr but he failed to pay.
The court documents reveal on April 11 this year, Stehr made a part-payment of $18,700, including GST, as “an amount the defendant claims was reasonable for the work done by the plaintiffâ€.
Oceancraft has accepted the part-payment, but is not prepared to accept it as full payment and is still seeking a further $22,906.27, plus interest, from February 10, 2010, from Stehr.
As part of his defense, Stehr’s lawyers have obtained a report from Adelaide Ship Construction International into the work done by Oceancraft.
The report gives a price of about $14,000, plus GST, to complete the same work including materials, labour and accommodation at Port Lincoln for two employees during installation.
Lawyers acting for Mr. Moukas declined to comment on the case when contacted on Friday.
Stehr’s lawyers did not return calls.