State ordered to pay $10k for wealthy brothers’ court battle

When an eastern suburbs finance guru faced off against his lawyer brother, the court battle ended up costing taxpayers $10,000.

Brothers Laurence and Alan Blumberg waged an ongoing battle via email after falling out over the level of care each gave to their elderly parents and the state of the family’s trusts. Picture: iStock

Exclusive: A courtroom brawl between two wealthy brothers, where one allegedly promised to not “rest until I have destroyed your career”, has resulted in taxpayers picking up the tab for their legal fight.

Eastern Suburbs finance guru Laurence Blumberg and his older brother, North Shore-based lawyer Alan Blumberg, waged an ongoing battle via email after falling out over the level of care each gave to their elderly parents and the state of the family’s trusts.

The siblings’ tiff escalated to the point where they were set to face off in Waverley Local Court on Monday after police applied to take out an apprehended violence order to protect Alan, 65, against Laurence, 55.

This came after a series of allegedly abusive emails sent between October and December 2023.

In one email shown to police, Laurence allegedly wrote, “Alan, I just wanted to reiterate what an absolute disgusting, selfish piece of shit I think you are.”

Alan Blumberg.

Laurence Blumberg. Picture: Facebook

But the case resulted in Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge ordering taxpayers to pick up the $10,000 legal bill for their dispute.

Ms Milledge’s order came after the AVO matter, which had been set down for a hearing, was aborted because Alan and the police officer who applied for the AVO did not show up at the court.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge ordered the state to pay $10,000 in costs.

Laurence’s lawyers Peter Lange and Daniel Kradolfer made an application for the case to be dismissed.

And because it was the police who took out the AVO on Alan’s behalf, Ms Milledge ordered the state to pay Laurence’s legal costs that he had accrued in briefing lawyers to fight the application.

Ms Millledge granted Laurence $10,000 in legal costs and ordered the state to pay within 28 days.

Police moved to take out the AVO in December after Alan – a Lindfield-based family lawyer – showed officers a series of abusive emails allegedly sent to him by his younger brother.

According to court documents, the pair clashed over who was carrying the load in caring for their elderly parents.

After allegedly writing that Alan was a “selfish piece of shit”, Laurence was accused of continuing with: “Your time will come, believe me. It is now my mission in life to make sure you get what you deserve.”

“...I’m not going to rest until I destroy your career as well,” Laurence allegedly wrote. “And that won’t be difficult … I’ve got a lot of plans for you. Karma is coming!”

In another email in October 2023, Laurence allegedly wrote, “You’re a selfish, dishonest, disgusting pig of a human being, and I can’t wait for karma to strike.

“You got a taste of it with your car breaking down and there is more to come, I promise you. This is just the start.”

According to court documents, Alan told police that his brother complained about him to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.

The case was listed for hearing at Waverley Local Court.

The Saturday Telegraph is not suggesting there was merit to any complaint against Alan, only that there was a claim made.

Other emails showed the pair also had clashed over their parents’ properties, including one in New Zealand, and who controlled the trust fund set up by their parents

One of the email skirmishes ended with Alan allegedly writing, “I will let the police decide if your (alleged) abuse is sufficient to warrant an AVO if I decide to contact them.”

This occurred on December 3.

According to court documents, the police officer wrote on the AVO application form that “police observed the emails and found (them) in no way threatening, however, find the continuous messages as borderline harassment.”

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