Lawyers' fees "reasonable and justifiable"

A law firm has rejected claims of being on a leaky homes gravy train.

Auckland firm Grimshaw & Co is dealing with up to 5000 cases and has already settled 1000-1500.

Partner Tim Rainey said the crisis had boosted the company's business but lawyers' fees were "reasonable and justifiable".

"A gravy train has connotations of people doing something unnecessary or not assisting somebody.

"It's true we are doing a lot of work for people for which we unashamedly charge a fee. People have no choice, if they are to get compensation, than to retain lawyers.

"That doesn't mean the people doing that work don't have every sympathy for people who are victims of this. It's truly awful."

However, Rainey was critical of the Weathertight Homes Tribunal which can only award costs to people who win their cases in exceptional circumstances. "It's one of the great shortcomings of the system the Government has set up. If they could address that issue it would go a long way to make it fairer."

He could understand people accusing lawyers of bullying in the tribunal but said they were only doing their job.

Rainey also criticised the Government for denying responsibility.

"Even though the Government made some decisions directly responsible for this problem they are not around the table having to pay for it. I think that's unfair - but the law isn't always fair."