A proposed $219million construction project in the heart of Sydney is at the centre of a bizarre alleged ‘campaign of extortion’ from an angry man who has gone after the developer’s CEO.
Kurraba Group Pty Ltd and its chief executive Nicholas Smith – who were signed on to build a state-of-the-art medical science and research facility in Sydney’s Alexandria – have launched defamation proceedings against Michael Williams.
It’s alleged Mr Williams made a website slamming Kurraba, Mr Smith and his ‘party boy’ lifestyle. Mr Williams also allegedly posted wedding photos of Mr Smith and his wife which ‘sought to portray… moral delinquency and drunkenness’.
The NSW District Court heard allegations Mr Williams lodged a complaint opposing the development at 100 Botany Rd, which promises to deliver 850 full-time jobs and boost medical research.
Kurraba also alleged Mr Williams, who briefly leased the Botany Rd site until January this year, threatened to lodge planning objections unless he was paid $50,000, the court was told.
The court heard Mr Smith and Mr Williams met at a hotel restaurant to discuss the matter on November 11 last year.
Kurraba Group Pty Ltd chief executive Nicholas Smith (above) launched legal action Sydney man Michael Williams
A render of the proposed Botany Rd, Alexandria development that Mr Smith’s company was allegedly being extorted over
‘I will be lodging objections to your development,’ Mr Williams allegedly said to Mr Smith.
‘Unless you pay me $50,000, I will not remove any of these objections. If you pay, I will remove the objections.
‘I have current disputes with John Holland, Australia Post and Google. I usually get about $15,000, but I cost them far more in legal fees and in John Holland’s case, it cost them about $700,000.’
According to a judgement, Mr Smith responded: ‘This is not a matter for Kurraba.
‘It’s a matter that you will need to speak with the current landowners as Kurraba doesn’t own the land.’
Mr Smith allegedly sent a text after the conversation at the hotel, the written judgement stated.
‘This offer is without prejudice, save as to costs. Thank you for meeting. We’ve just commenced litigation against the landlord to stay in the property,’ Mr Williams texted.
‘We believe $50,000 is a reasonable amount of compensation to cover our moving and first two months of rent in a new building given the demolition occurring.
Mr Williams left the developer a damning one-star Google review in January this year, according to a court judgment
‘Should you agree, we will relocate 90 days from the date a deed is settled. I must receive notification by 15 November 2024.
‘Your offer would go a long way in resolving this situation which has put us in a very difficult situation.’
Again, Kurraba boss Mr Smith refused the demand so Mr Williams left the developer a damning one-star Google review in January this year, the court heard.
‘Absolute junk company. Incompetent. Lacks proper experience and expertise to deliver on any of their promises,’ Mr Williams wrote.
‘Uses the State Significant Development Process to bypass local planning controls coupling their massive developments with the minimum required components to appear as they’re helping society when in reality they will just damage the local area they operate.
‘Highly recommend to stay away and if you’re investing any capital with these individuals for their project you take appropriate risk controls as it’s unlikely you’ll ever recover your funds.
‘Their “community outreach” is laughable, as they refuse to engage with anyone and instead are only focused on enriching themselves at the expense of the local community they’re damage.’
According to the written judgement, Mr Williams later made ‘serious allegations’ during a Central Sydney Planning Committee meeting before he was interrupted by the Lord Mayor and told to stop speaking’.
The Alexandria development promises to deliver 850 full-time jobs and boost medical research in Sydney
In March, Mr Williams launched the ‘Kurraba Group Exposed’ website, which includes articles criticising Kurraba and Mr Smith, the court heard.
In one article titled ‘Nick Smith of Kurraba: Lavish Lifestyle Raises Investor Concerns’ Mr Williams alleges Mr Smith is a ‘party animal’ who ‘risks eroding investor confidence’.
‘Across a string of photographs, Smith is seen not simply socialising but leaning fully into the persona of a “party animal”,’ the article states.
‘He appears at weddings with champagne, at black-tie events with cocktails, and in casual gatherings with cigars.
‘At times his flushed face, half-loosened bow tie, and exaggerated facial expressions project the image of someone far more at home in the early hours of the dance floor than at a boardroom table.
‘While there is nothing inherently wrong with unwinding, optics matter. For an individual responsible for guiding millions of dollars in investor-backed projects, repeatedly being captured in settings of indulgence – drink in hand, cigar at the ready – can begin to erode confidence.’
It’s also alleged Mr Williams published photos of Mr Smith and his wife’s wedding as noted by now-retired District Court Judge Gibson.
‘[Mr Smith] and his wife were not public figures and had no intention of publishing their wedding photographs to any media or other mass publication organisation,’ Judge Gibson said.
Mr Williams launched the ‘Kurraba Group Exposed’ website which includes articles criticising Kurraba and Mr Smith
‘The photographs in question were, further, misused by the defendant in that he sought to portray what they depicted as indicating moral delinquency and drunkenness as opposed to the sanctity of marriage and the ceremonial proceedings attendant thereupon.’
Judge Gibson made interim orders against Mr Williams after she said ‘the evidence at this interlocutory stage is that the conduct of Mr Williams is directed at extorting funds from Kurraba and Mr Smith’.
‘No legitimate reason is put forward for Mr Smith for engaging in this conduct,’ she noted.
‘Indeed, his boast of having had success against other large corporations (John Holland, Australia Post and Google), where he engaged in similar conduct, such as his reprehensible attack on the wife of an employee of one of those companies, is the clearest of indications of a serious claim of need for interim relief.’
Judge Gibson also made orders on Mr Williams that ‘not require personal service’
‘I have done so because I am satisfied, from the defendant’s correspondence referring to his ability to avoid contact by, inter alia, blocking his email account…,’ she said.
‘He is more likely than not to attempt to avoid service and that the corporate entity behind which he conducts his affairs is registered in an overseas jurisdiction,’ she said.
‘In an era where litigation parties are in fact far easier to contact electronically than in person, where these shadowy entities are furthermore used by them to conduct their business affairs on a day to day basis…
‘A defendant should not be able to seek to avoid the bringing of proceedings by relying upon nineteenth-century niceties such as personal service.’
Mr Williams was ordered to not post anything on the internet about Kurraba or Mr Smith and was given two days from October 7 to take down any websites or internet posts.
The matter was stood over for directions on the Defamation List on October 23.
