Buyer in court over ‘dud’ Porsche review

A luxury car dealer is suing a client for defamation after the man allegedly claimed he’d been sold a “dud” Porsche in a series of online reviews.

Peter King and the 2011 Porsche Panamera Turbo he purchased from Lorbek Luxury Cars.

A defamation stoush ­between a well-known Melbourne luxury car dealer and one of his customers will land in court next week, almost four years after it began.

Srecko Lorbek, owner of Melbourne-based Lorbek Luxury Cars, is suing a man who claimed in a Google review to have been sold a dud second-hand Porsche in 2016.

The Supreme Court trial is pencilled to begin on Monday – via online hearings – and will run for up to eight days.

Mr King allegedly claimed in four online reviews – one of which was posted under the pseudonym of “Petez” – that Mr Lorbek and his salesman brother David had sold him an unroadworthy 2011 Porsche Panamera turbo, worth about $140k, and had “lied to (his) face” about its condition.

“If you’re thinking of dealing with Lorbek, turn and run away,” Peter King allegedly wrote in April 2017.

“They don’t deserve any stars.”

Srecko Lorbek with his wife Dr Chantel Thornton.

The brothers have accused Mr King of defaming them in reviews which they claim sensationalised his story with “factually incorrect and extreme views” to lure readers while “scarifying” the businessmen’s reputation.

Srecko Lorbek, whose 2017 wedding to breast cancer surgeon Dr Chantel Thornton was attended by former foreign minister Julie Bishop, claims his hard-won reputation as a licensed car trader and businessman has been ­injured.

He previously spoke out about the legal action, saying he was “taking a stand” to protect his name and brand which he had spent more than three decades building.

In court documents, the car dealer claims each online post was written “with the express purpose of damaging (his) credibility and reputation”.

“(Mr King) has waged a campaign against the first plaintiff to have him labelled as a fraudster and prosecuted and banned from selling motor ­vehicles,” a statement of claim alleges.

Mr King has refused to ­retract or apologise despite ­requests from the Lorbeks’ lawyers, court papers state.

In defence documents filed by Mr King, he maintained his claims that both Srecko and David Lorbek were frauds who had “knowingly sold a vehicle with a fraudulent roadworthy certificate”.

Mr King claims in the papers that “anything” ­either of the brothers had suffered “is by his own action”.

A writ lodged with the court claimed the first of four allegedly defamatory posts by Mr King appeared shortly after magistrates’ court proceedings between them were settled. Mr King’s posts claim that settlement saw the Lorbeks agree to pay repair costs for the car.

Justice Michael McDonald is expected to hear the case on Monday morning.