It is only too easy for lonely people to give their hearts away to unworthy partners and to fall victim to their deceit. However, as one case involving a divorcee who lavished six-figure sums on a lying spendaholic showed, a good lawyer can give irreplaceable assistance in picking up the pieces.
The woman had received a £550,000 divorce settlement, most of which she planned to invest in a new home. However, after meeting her new love, she moved in with him for three years and all but emptied her savings account as they embarked upon a lavish lifestyle together, enjoying expensive cars, high-end jewellery, foreign travel, staying in five star-hotels and eating out at costly restaurants.
She claimed that she was duped by his claim to be an extremely wealthy man, who had temporary cash-flow problems due to his own impending divorce. Amongst other things, he claimed to have shares in a company that paid him dividends of £2 million a year, to own numerous properties, worth millions, and to own a share of a yacht in Monaco. He was, in fact, of modest means and, after their relationship ended, she had to pawn or sell her jewellery in order to make ends meet.
After she realised she had been lied to, the woman went to solicitors who lodged proceedings against the man on her behalf, alleging deceit. They managed to obtain a default judgment against him, without the need for her to go through a contested trial on the issue of liability.
Following a hearing, a judge found that the man’s conduct was principally driven by his addiction to spending. The woman had only spent her money as unwisely as she had in reliance on his promise that he would pay her back in due course. The cash that she had given him had been acknowledged to be loans, rather than gifts. The man was ordered to pay her about £300,000 in damages, plus interest.
