Jordan Williams welcomes District Court summary judgement and strike-out of Colin Craig copyright claim

6 December 2016
For immediate release

Jordan Williams is welcoming this afternoon’s decision by Judge Sharp at the Auckland District Court, striking out a claim by Colin Craig, and in addition, awarding summary judgement to Mr Williams.

Mr Craig claimed $3,000 in general damages and $5,000 in punitive damages from Mr Williams related to copyright of a love poem Mr Craig wrote to his former press secretary. Mr Craig claimed that in addition to being a politician he also a poet and writer.

Judge Sharp, in an oral judgement, ruled that Mr Craig’s claim was vexatious, improper, an abuse of the Court process, and was effectively a deception on the Court.

Mr Williams says, “I welcome today’s ruling and am glad that I can now move on. I obviously welcome the Court’s acknowledgement that Mr Craig’s claim was vexatious and an abuse of process."

The proceedings are entirely separate to the claim against Mr Craig by Mr Williams whereby an 11-member jury awarded Mr Williams damages for a leaflet and remarks published by Mr Craig in July 2015.

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