Insurance heavyweight IAG is reportedly moving to have a lawsuit against it thrown out following the complainant’s
recent conviction for blackmail.
Christopher John Robinson was sentenced to nine months home detention after he tried to get $5 million by sending emails threatening to expose the insurance company in the media.
Robinson, who it was revealed had five previous convictions for blackmail, had had a claim with IAG brand State Insurance declined after arson was suspected to be the cause of his luxury five-bedroom lodge in Kerikeri burning down in 2011.
Robinson, 68, sent several IAG executives emails with threats including using a website to destroy the company’s reputation unless his demands were met.
Robinson and his wife had also had a civil suit against the company filed with the High Court which had been halted until his sentencing earlier this month, the
New Zealand Herald reported.
During a brief hearing in Auckland last week, Justice John Faire revealed IAG was applying to strike out the Robinsons’ claim, NZ Herald said.
The case was due to come back before the court later this month.
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