Kleenmaid director's wife to return luxury cars

Updated November 5 2012 - 10:20pm, first published August 25 2009 - 4:30am
Kleenmaid directors Bradley and Andrew Young
Kleenmaid directors Bradley and Andrew Young

The wife of a former Kleenmaid director has been ordered to return two luxury cars to the company's liquidator.Lawyers on behalf of Kleenmaid liquidator Deloitte appeared in the Brisbane Supreme Court today seeking an order to have Linda Young, the wife of Andrew Young, return to them an Audi and a Lexus she claimed were legally hers. Andrew and his brother Brad Young were directors of the Queensland-based appliance group Kleenmaid when it went into liquidation in May with debts of more than $80 million.Hundreds of people were left out of pocket as a result of the company's sudden collapse, including several disappointed South Coast customers who contacted the Mercury.Deloitte lawyers argued in court today that the luxury vehicles were in the asset register under a company named Orchard KM Pty Ltd - which was under the umbrella of the Kleenmaid group when it went into voluntary administration. The court heard the Maroochydore-based Ms Young had shares in Orchard KM Pty Ltd and that she asserted the company had legally sold her the vehicles, which were now registered under her name. However lawyer for liquidator Deloitte Vince Brennan, told the court that despite several attempts since June to see evidence of a legal transfer Ms Young had only ever asserted the vehicles were hers and had never offered proof. Ms Young's lawyer sought to have the matter adjourned to give Ms Young more time to give evidence before the court.However Justice Peter Applegarth denied the application saying she had already had plenty of time. "The respondent, whilst making assertions through solicitor correspondence, has not placed evidence before the courts," Justice Applegarth said. "Mere assertion the respondent is the owner is not enough." Justice Applegarth ordered Ms Young to return the vehicles to the liquidators before August 31. She was also ordered to pay $10,000 in legal costs to the liquidators. In May, Deloitte announced the Kleenmaid group's liabilities of more than $100 million far outweighed its assets of about $2 million, offering bleak prospects for creditors and shareholders getting a return.

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