Alitigant in person has been made subject to an extended civil restraint order after contempt applications she made against her former lawyers were found to be totally without merit.
Martina Yvonne Shand sought permission to bring contempt proceedings against six people, five of whom are lawyers. The underlying dispute, which began more than 13 years ago, centred on plumbing in and ventilation of Shand’s flat.
The judgment in Martina Yvonne Shand v Peter Edward Kemkers & Ors described Shand’s allegations as ‘of the most serious character’ against defendants ‘who are all alleged to have been guilty of misconduct and indeed to have conspired together to deceive Ms Shand and the court’.
Mr Justice Cotter said Shand, who represented herself, ‘presented as little short of crestfallen and overwhelmed and…clearly very upset’.