By NOEL MURPHY
REAL estate agent Daniel Hayes has lashed out at MMP’s legal claims, calling them a bid to stop agents giving vendors choice in newspaper advertising.
Mr Hayes told the Independent he was confident MMP’s latest claim against him “could be easily defended”.
Mr Hayes said MMP’s latest writ withdrew defamatory aspects of its initial February claim against him.
He criticised MMP for “outrageously” leaking the February claim to media outlets before serving it on him.
“The February claim made unsubstantiated, false and defamatory allegations of breaches of the Estate Agents Act and the Crimes Act,” he said.
“After months of delay, MMP has now issued a revised statement of claim on 21 May that has withdrawn these false and sensational claims.”
Mr Hayes said he intended pursuing MMP and its head, Antony Catalano, for allegedly defaming him.
MMP has accused News Ltd of “classic bully behaviour” for reports in its Geelong Advertiser and The Australian that the initial allegations against Mr Hayes had been dropped and the Review was losing $30,000 a month.
“We have not dropped any of our legal actions,” Mr Catalano told the Independent.
“Hayeswinckle’s defection has reduced our profitability by $30,000 a month but … we were making more than $80,000 a month.
“The matters raised in our original statement … have been referred to the relevant authorities, Consumer Affairs Victoria, the ACCC and Victoria Police”.
Mr Hayes said no authorities had contacted him in the past four months.
“We feel the reason we have not been investigated is because the authorities see there is no substance to these allegations.”
Mr Catalano rejected Mr Hayes’ claim MMP was trying to limit vendors’ advertising choice.
“It is impossible to be banging on about vendors’ choice when you’ve signed an exclusive agreement to advertise all your products in the Geelong Advertiser.”
Mr Catalano also rejected Mr Hayes’ claim about leaking claims.
“You can’t leak a court document until it’s lodged.”
Mr Hayes was wrong to assert the latest claims had no substance because he was “not a County Court judge”, Mr Catalano said.
“We are very much looking forward to our day in court.”
Mr Catalano denied defaming Mr Hayes.
“We can’t wait for the opportunity to be heard.”
