Lawyer dumps client

A Napier company being prosecuted for failing to ensure the safety of an employee has been dumped by their lawyer.
A1 Contractors Limited appeared before Judge Geoff Rea in Napier District Court yesterday for sentence on a charge of failing to ensure the safety of an employee.
However, after failing to contact their lawyer Michael McAleer for six weeks, he withdrew as their counsel. Neither director of the company appeared in court.
Judge Rea said he was happy to sentence in absence but had not seen a reparation schedule for the worker who had lost a limb.
"The complainant suffered a horrendous injury resulting in the amputation of a leg.
"He bears no grudges to the company or with anyone else as a result of this."
In a message being sent to the company he said potential reparation could be around $90,000 and any notion of the company being in financial trouble would have to be supported in court by evidence.
The next hearing is due in early April.