Melissa Caddick’s victims unite to target parents’ claims

Melissa Caddick’s victims have joined forces to crack down on their parents’ claims that they should be given preferential treatment in the distribution of the scammer’s estate.

The herald can reveal that with the sale of her jewelry and property, the current estate is now worth $7 million. The ongoing legal affairs and complicated resolution of Caddick’s affairs have already drained $2 million from the asset pool.

Caddick, 49, disappeared in November 2020, hours after her home was searched by corporate regulator ASIC in connection with a fraudulent investment scheme she had operated.

Her partial remains washed up in her running shoe on a remote beach 400 kilometers south of Sydney in February 2021.

Prominent attorney Nicholas Owens, SC made a surprise appearance in federal court Wednesday, representing 54 of the 55 investors, including some close relatives and former friends of Caddick’s parents. The court heard that the remaining investor could not be reached.

Judge Brigitte Markovic heard the group, represented by “Investor A,” dispute the Grimleys’ claim that they receive preferential treatment and share equally any funds that recipients of Caddick’s estate can muster.

Last year, the Grimleys’ attorney, Robert Newlinds, SC, challenged the investor group to fight the battle with his clients. “If someone wants to dispute my clients’ ownership claim, I’ll say it openly, they should bring it up,” he said.

Owens, who is representing Nine Newspapers in the Ben Roberts-Smith libel case, noted that “Mr. Newlinds has long been crying out for someone” to come forward and announced that “my client is trying to fill that role… as a representative for everyone.” private investors”.