Marcus Bontempelli’s father sues Kew couple in legal dogfight

The father of Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli is locked in a legal battle with a couple from Kew over an alleged debt of more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Marcus Bontempelli hugs his father Carlo after his first win in 2014. Picture: Michael Klein

The father of Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli is locked in a legal battle with a couple from Kew, alleging they owe him more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Carlo Bontempelli, a concreter, has launched legal action against Linda Hemphill and Thomas Egan after he claims they failed to cough up for works he completed at their Kew property.

According to a County Court writ, obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun, Mr Bontempelli is chasing up to $378,555 from the couple.

Mr Egan, a practising solicitor, helped Mr Bontempelli with the “reorganisation of the affairs” of his company Bontempo Constructions back in 2012.

Bontempelli with his dad at the 2017 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

Around the same time, Mr Egan and his wife had commenced a complex renovation of their Adeney Ave home and asked Mr Bontempelli to undertake concreting and excavation works.

The invoice for these construction works was offset by the amount owed to Mr Egan for his legal work.

But the couple then requested Mr Bontempelli assist with additional works at the site as Mr Egan continued to provide his legal services.

This arrangement ran from 2013 all the way through to 2020.

“The monies due to (Mr Bontempelli) for the additional works was due to be paid after he and Mr Egan reconciled what monies might be owing to each of them,” the writ states.

However, despite several requests by the concreter for a meeting to “reconcile the payment due” and promises by the lawyer to “attend to the reconciliation”, Ms Hemphill and Mr Egan have allegedly failed to pay up.

“Despite demand, the defendants have failed, refused or neglected to pay the additional works sum,” the writ alleges.

Mr Bontempelli claims he worked 767 hours for the couple in 2014 and was due $92,000, but only $7000 had been paid by the defendants.

He also claims he is owed $82,905, $80,000 and $80,758 for works completed in 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Ms Hemphill and Mr Egan are yet to file a defence with the court.

Mr Bontempelli’s lawyer Steven Sapountsis from Sapountsis Legal said his client did not wish to comment at this stage.

Bontempelli has played more than 240 games for the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

The Bulldogs midfielder was raised alongside his three sisters in Eltham in Melbourne’s outer-east.

He went on to play junior football for the Eltham Football Club before he was drafted by the Dogs in 2013, having since played more than 240 games.

A calf injury has sidelined the Bont, but there is hope he will return by Gather Round to face the reigning premiers.

In an interview with the Herald Sun in 2017, the six-time All-Australian said he saw similarities between himself and his father.

“He’s quite shy on face value until you get to know him,” he said.

“He’s a man of few words and I think that’s rubbed off on me.

“Dad is a concreter and it’s a hardworking trade. I spent time with him concreting on school holidays and I probably got an appreciation for hard work.”

Ms Hemphill and Mr Egan declined to comment.

Originally published as Marcus Bontempelli’s father sues Kew couple in legal dogfight