Cooktown woman made bankrupt after losing defamation case against former mayor Peter Scott
A bankrupted Cooktown mum who is fighting to save her family home after losing a defamation action against a former mayor claims the Qld justice system is unfair to self-represented litigants.
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A bankrupted mum fighting to save her family home after losing a defamation action against a former Cooktown mayor claims the Queensland justice system is unfair to self-represented litigants.
Kym Jerome has lost her investment property and her Cape York Funeral Services business.
Protracted legal battles have caused an “irreparable family rift” as the 68-year-old scrambles to meet financial obligations imposed by the courts.
Ms Jerome’s years-long battle with the justice system began in 2011 when she was made executive officer of the now defunct Regional Organisation of Councils of Cape York.
She alleges her troubles began at a meeting in November 2013 which was held to terminate her employment at the time but was never properly actioned.
The alleged failure meant Ms Jerome remained the secretary and treasurer of the organisation despite the disbanding of ROCCY in 2013.
In 2016, police raided Ms Jerome’s Cooktown home.
She was fingerprinted, photographed and had DNA samples taken before being charged with three counts of fraud based on reports made to Queensland Police’s Fraud and Cyber Crime Group.
Fraud charges were discontinued in the District Court in May 2018 but a successful Supreme Court application the following year meant laptops and other items seized by police and caveats were placed over two of Ms Jerome’s properties.
More than $100,000 held in ROCCY’s ANZ bank account was transferred to the Public Trustee of Queensland.
Ms Jerome filed an unsuccessful defamation claim against former Cooktown mayor Peter Scott in 2022.
Judge Dean Morzone awarded costs against the plaintiff, which led to bankruptcy.
Ms Jerome said she had no capacity to pay $60,000 owed to King and Company Solicitors.
“I did not commit any crime,” she said.
“I am being bankrupted in the Federal Court … I have no capacity to pay and I am now threatened with losing my home.
“This matter has destroyed my life since 2013.”
In February, Ms Jerome was served with bankruptcy documents at her home in Cooktown.
The next day she crashed her car.
She was flown to hospital and requested an adjournment of a Federal Court bankruptcy hearing in Brisbane, which was denied.
Nursing severe bruising to her sternum and pelvis and a head injury, Ms Jerome attended a Federal Court bankruptcy hearing where she was bankrupted on April 16.
“Now I will lose my home,” she said.
“The last thing I have left for 68 years of my life, my superannuation is under $10,000.”
At the heart of the “destruction” of Ms Jerome’s life are claims of falling victim to a system in which she was disadvantaged by not having the means to pay for legal representation.
“It has now become obviously clear to me that people who defend themselves, no matter what evidence they have, will be destroyed by information and barriers within the justice and legal systems,” she said.
“The treatment of and to me is disgusting, despicable, stressful and unfair.”
Ms Jerome has erected a large placard outside her house pleading for justice and she is now in the process of having a 1.8m sign printed to display on the back of her ute demanding a “right to justice”.
An extensive list of documents relating to the case has been sent to the Crime and Corruption Commission but this week Ms Jerome was told analysis of the paperwork may take some time.
Peter Scott, when contacted by the Cairns Post, didn’t wish to comment on the matter which he said would do nothing but to “stir the pot”.
“It’s done now, it’s over,” he said.
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Originally published as Cooktown woman made bankrupt after losing defamation case against former mayor Peter Scott
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