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Will the Wrecker: what next in the legal fight with Michael Yarwood

Joseph “Will the Wrecker” Smith has promised further court action against a former Gold Coast lawyer, even after a winning a $1.8 million judgment.

Will the Wrecker interview

JOSEPH “Will the Wrecker” Smith has promised further court action against former Gold Coast lawyer Michael Yarwood, even after a winning a $1.8 million judgment.

In the Supreme Court in Brisbane yesterday, Judge Glenn Martin ordered Mr Yarwood pay Mr Smith $1.65 million, interest of $204,866 and court costs which could total up to $500,000.

Barrister Chris Garlick watches on as Will "the Wrecker" Smith toast success in the courts, at his Southport Chambers. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Barrister Chris Garlick watches on as Will "the Wrecker" Smith toast success in the courts, at his Southport Chambers. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Despite the win, Gold Coast barrister Chris Garlick, who is Mr Smith’s joint enduring power of attorney, said legal action would continue.

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“Will Smith has had a fairly significant victory today in that he has had about a $1.8 million judgment, which includes interest for money that was taking from him without excuse, by Michael Yarwood,” Mr Garlick told the Bulletin.

“Now what we are going to do is seeking to have that money returned to Will even if that means we have to bankrupt Mr Yarwood.

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Michael Yarwood arriving at Brisbane Supreme Courts. Photographer: Liam Kidston.
Michael Yarwood arriving at Brisbane Supreme Courts. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

“There’s a lot of matters before the court, and other matters that are yet to come before the court. We are to be going to be pursuing what happened to Mr Smith’s money, where it went, what assets were bought with it.”

Mr Yarwood had claimed about $1.95 million was owed to him after Mr Smith allegedly terminated his management and administrative services agreement in May last year.

Mr Yarwood provided “general assistance and management needs” regarding Mr Smith’s motor-vehicle trading business, and was involved in talks to sell much of the wrecker’s Reedy Creek site to the State Government for the rail corridor for $9 million.

In December last year, Mr Yarwood lost the first battle after Judge Martin found there was an “absence of anything to suggest Mr Yarwood has a case”.

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The West Burleigh wrecking yard including the famous FX. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
The West Burleigh wrecking yard including the famous FX. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Smith, 81, launched a counter legal attack where he sought $1.65 million, which the Department of Transport and Main Roads had paid as part of the money for resumption of his wrecker’s land.

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In January, Mr Yarwood failed in a bid to have the trial delayed due to ill health and the former general manager of the Gold Coast Meter Maids did not attend court yesterday.

Celebrating at Mr Garlick’s Southport chambers, Mr Smith told the Bulletin: “This guy really stitched me up, right. It’s been a battle. But we’ve finally got there. There’s a lot of money involved.

“I not really happy about being in the public eye. I like to do my own thing. This is a big win, this one. I feel pretty uptight about the whole thing, you know (being in the public eye).

“But it’s a long drawn out process, these court cases. Plus it’s very, very expensive.

“The first case against us was for $2 million, right. We had to defend it. We got up on that one. And now we got up on the second one. And there’s more to come, don’t worry.”

Mr Yarwood yesterday indicated he would appeal the decision, maintaining he had hundreds of documents that “account for every single cent of Mr Smith’s”.

“An appeal will be lodged, as I said, once I am well enough,” Mr Yarwood said.

“And I’m more than happy to open up my records to the Bulletin that show I paid for everything for Mr Smith from rates, splurges at Lloyds Auctions and traffic fines.”

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/crime-court/will-the-wrecker-what-next-in-the-gold-coasts-worst-legal-fight-with-michael-yarwood/news-story/ad1b4440a9d554432ae7fa34bc20c5bc