The High Court has awarded barrister Kerry Cox £400,000 worth of property following a dispute with her former fiancé and fellow lawyer Lawrence Jones.
Cox, who practices from a barristers’ set at Plowden Buildings, had sought possession of a £200,000 flat in Islington, London N1, and a 50% share of a property knownw as The Mill that the couple had converted into an £800,000 seven-bedroom home in Great Maplestead, Essex.
She claimed that Jones had promised her an interest in the properties during their relationship.
Mr Justice Mann has now held that Cox was entitled to the sole ownership of the flat and to a 25% stake in The Mill.
The judge also rejected Jones’ claim for the return of a £20,000 solitaire engagement ring that he had given to Cox in February 1998.
Jones had purchased both properties in his sole name in 1999. He had also paid for the extensive refurbishment of The Mill, although Cox had managed and co-ordinated the works.
However, the court held that, on the evidence, Jones had acquired the flat, which was situated above an apartment already owned by Cox, not in his own right but as his former fiancée’s nominee.
Similarly, the judge stated that the couple had expressly agreed that The Mill would be jointly owned. In the circumstances, he said, awarding a 25% share of the property to Cox would reflect her contributions, but would also give due weight to Jones’ considerable input.
The judge also called into question Jones’ credibility as a witness after his financial details were disclosed in the case.
Jones, a Chancery practitioner specialising in insolvency, financial services provisions and commercial fraud at 9 Stone Buildings, had, at one point, failed to pay taxes for 10 years and “had a certain liking” for keeping his money in offshore accounts.
Mr Justice Mann said that he was “very suspicious”‘ about Jones’ evidence in financial matters, and that his testimony with regard to Cox had to be treated with care because of a “tendency to make unwarranted allegations” about her allegedly provocative behaviour, even though such claims were not relevant to the case.
Cox v Jones Chancery Division (Mann J) 24 June 2004.
Michael Roberts and Shelly White (instructed by Reynolds Porter Chamberlain) appeared for the claimant; Michael Ashe QC and Constance Mahoney (instructed by Lake Jackson) appeared for the defendant.
References: EGi Legal News 25/06/04