Jamie Durie's legal battle with former right-hand man
Jamie Durie founded his design practice in 1998 and then soon after, became a household name after appearing on home improvement shows, such as Backyard Blitz and The Block.
He then received international acclaim after making regular appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show for over four years and has now hosted more than 50 design shows around the globe.
However, the 48-year-old’s multimillion-dollar design company has been quietly crumbling.
On May 3, Durie’s company JPD Media and Design Pty Ltd went into voluntary administration, with Simon Cathro from Worrels Solvency and Forensic Accountants appointed to look into the company’s financial affairs.
The news followed a long legal battle between Durie and his former employee Mike Curnow, who had worked as the company’s global head of licensing.
Curnow was hired by the company in 2004 and let go in 2013.
Curnow then launched legal action against his former employer for unpaid commissions.
In March, the Supreme Court ruled Mr Curnow was owed $563,049, which does not include the judgement on interest and costs which is yet to be made. Solicitors estimate the interest and costs could push the total amount owed to more than $1 million.
Mr Curnow was not paid the initial sum by April, and so his legal team filed a creditor’s statutory demand for the payment, which was due by May 4, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
However, just one day before the payment was due, Durie placed his company into voluntary administration, with just $1 in the bank.
Curnow, who is still waiting for his payout, said he was “absolutely disgusted” over the situation.
“This has cost me my marriage, my home and my career,” Mr Curnow said of the legal fight with Durie.
“If he thinks I’m going to give up now, he’s mistaken. I’m not going anywhere.”
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the company also owes cash to other creditors including the Australian Taxation Office, with more than $215,000 in unpaid taxes for the 2016/17 financial year.
The legal battle also revealed that Durie had taken a $500,000 loan from ex-Macquarie group boss Bill Moss in 2010 to keep his business running.
Durie had been forced to ask for an extension on the loan, admitting to Moss that he had “made some bad decisions”.
Durie previously told Fairfax reporters that Curnow had “made millions out of me over the years”.