Lawyer Chris Murphy in civil stoush with Bellevue Hill landlords

Chris Murphy will give evidence in court on Tuesday arguing mould in an Eastern Suburbs rental ruined his expensive items and was unsafe.

High-profile Sydney lawyer Chris Murphy is being sued by his former Bellevue Hill landlords for failing to pay more than $40,000 in rent — which he claims he refused to hand over because of severe mould in the multimillion-dollar home.

The District Court on Monday heard Mr Murphy — who has represented actor Russell Crowe and musician Rod Stewart — claims he lost 40 pieces of art, clothing and furniture from mould contamination at the Rivers St property.

The 72-year-old filed a complaint against former Bondi surgeon George Lewkovitz and his wife Ilana at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2017.

Lawyer Chris Murphy outside court on Monday. Picture: Adam Yip

Lawyer Chris Murphy. Picture: Adam Yip

In response, the Lewkovitzs filed a cross claim against Murphy seeking unpaid rent.

A court hearing last May was vacated and relisted to a three-day hearing this week.

Murphy’s Barrister Derek Hand told the court four experts would give evidence including a mediation expert, a toxicologist, an art conservationist and an engineer.

Mr Hand said the court would hear indoor airborne and surface mould samples were taken at such high levels they were deemed a health hazard.

The court heard both parties agree there was mould but they will argue whether Mr Murphy was able to live safely.

The Lewkovitzs‘ barrister Adrian Maroya told the court Mr Murphy would be unable to prove his clients breached their duty of care or the residential tenancy agreement terms.

Mr Murphy paid $10,800 a month to live in the five bedroom home he shared with his estranged wife Agnes Bruck and their children.

He now lives in a Bondi rental.

Landlords Illana and George Lewkovitz arrive at court in Sydney. Picture: Adam Yip

Illana and George Lewkovitz are suing their former tenant Chris Murphy. Picture: Adam Yip

Christina Graham, who lived in the house for two years before Mr Murphy, told the court on Monday she installed a humidifier which extracted 20 litres of water every two days, at one point in time.

She said she was told by a doctor her respiratory problems were “undoubtedly” due to breathing in mould.

“There was mould growing on everything we owned,” Ms Graham told the court.

Ms Graham said a tradesman told her the home had evidence of “rising damp”, but he could not work out what was causing the issue.

In cross-examination, Mr Maroya said the previous tenant never once mentioned the mould issue via email, but she did mention other issues like broken items.

But Ms Graham said she told the Lewkovitzs about the mould over the phone.

The Lewkovitzs have since sold the Bellevue Hill home for $6.37m, according to realestate.com.

It has since been renovated and resold in December, 2020, for a whopping $12.1m.

Mr Murphy is due to give evidence tomorrow morning.