TV mogul Reg Grundy’s ‘love child’ in fight for slice of $800m fortune
The man who claims to be the long lost son of late TV King Reg Grundy has appeared at court for the first time, looking remarkably like the media mogul, to claim his slice of the $800 million fortune.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The man who claims to be the long lost son of late TV King Reg Grundy has appeared at court for the first time, looking remarkably like the media mogul, to claim his slice of the $800 million fortune.
Simon Thomas Russell, a two-time mayor of the Bayside region in Victoria, sat in the gallery of a Supreme Court close to Dr Grundy’s estranged daughter Viola La Valette and widow Carolyn Joy Chambers-Grundy who are already fighting over the division of the estate.
Mr Russell’s barrister Nicolas Kirby told Justice Geoff Lindsay that they had tested a biological sample of Dr Grundy to prove his paternity but the results were, “inconclusive”.
He said they had a “fortuitous find” of a “biological sample right under our noses at (pathology company) Douglass Hanly Moir,” however, “once testing was completed it had insufficient DNA to construct a profile, those results came back inconclusive.”
Mr Kirby said they were now seeking a court order compelling Ms Chambers-Grundy to list all the “medical entities” that may be holding biological material belonging to Dr Grundy.
Justice Lindsay asked Mr Kirby why they didn’t try to obtain and test a biological sample from Ms La Valette?
“If they are half brother and sister won’t that not show?” he asked.
Mr Kirby said they had received expert advice that full or half siblings would provide a “statistical likelihood” that they share a parent but it was, “a poor substitute and, “not conclusive”.
He said testing Ms La Valette also exposed her to the possibility that she wasn’t Dr Grundy’s daughter.
Justice Lindsay said that outcome was so unlikely he did not think it should be a reason to rule out having the siblings tested.
“It may be if there is a positive sibling test that comes up everyone may agree that Mr Russell is technically a child of the deceased,” he said.
Outside of court when Mr Russell was asked why he believed he was Reg Grundy’s son he said, “I’m not going to go into it unless the DNA comes back and then we can go from there.”
“There’s no story until the DNA turns up.”
Mr Russell is the second plaintiff to pursue Ms Chambers-Grundy over her late husband’s estate.
Viola La Valette, previously Kim Grundy, commenced court proceedings in 2017 disputing her father’s will which made Ms Chambers-Grundy the main beneficiary of his estate.
Ms La Valette, who did not speak to her father for 22 years, is seeking tens of millions on top of the $250,000 she receives annually.
Her lawyers have argued Mr Grundy was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease when he made arrangements to bequeath his fortune.
Ms Chambers-Grundy travelled from her mansion in Bermuda to Sydney to give evidence at a hearing to inquire into whether she had complied with court orders to hand over all documents relating to her husband’s assets to Ms La Valette’s legal team.
She was asked by Ms La Valette’s barrister Michael Meek SC about her position as chairman and director of RG Holdings Capital Group and what her formal qualifications are.
Ms Chambers-Grundy replied that her qualifications were, “48 years married to Reg Grundy and watching him build a great business and learning that business very well.”
Ms Chambers-Grundy was questioned by Mr Meek about receiving power of attorney over Dr Grundy’s estate in 2012.
She denied this was because he had dementia which she said he only developed,” towards the very end.”
“It was strokes, he couldn’t write, he couldn’t walk and therefore he couldn’t sign anything too so he gave me power of attorney in 2012.”
Ms Chambers-Grundy said all their assets, except their waterside Bermuda mansion, were put into a trust called Cantilver Private Trust Company.
She said she received advice on the management of her husband’s assets and companies from Michael Mello counsel at Appleby law firm.
Mr Meek said the accounts that were produced for the Cantilever Trust did not reveal all the assets it held.
Mr Grundy was an entrepreneur and media mogul who made his name by creating numerous hit TV shows including game shows Blankety Blanks, Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right and soap operas Prisoner, Sons and Daughters, The Young Doctors and Neighbours.
The case was adjourned until June 21.
Editor’s Note: This article originally referred to the fact that Mrs Chambers-Grundy’s Bermuda Counsel works for Appleby law firm, which was the subject of the Paradise Papers data leak. The Paradise Papers were not mentioned in court. The article did not report that Mrs Chambers-Grundy’s solicitor gave advice about tax avoidance or that Mrs Chambers-Grundy engaged in tax avoidance. Readers should not infer or have inferred either of those things to be the case.