Dirk Kuyt Takes His Lawyers To Court After Being Sued Himself

Liverpool FC midfielder Dirk Kuyt is taking his own lawyers to court after being sued for allegedly refusing to pay contractors more than £50,000.

The World Cup finalist was served with a writ by property managers Knight Frank after it oversaw an overhaul and extension of his south Liverpool home.

The firm managed the £400,000 contract and expected to be paid 11% of that sum for its fees.

But Kuyt is accused of not paying.

Knight Frank’s solicitors lodged papers at the High Court in March, saying the company planned to sue the 30-year-old Dutch international.

But five months later, Kuyt also issued a writ to law firm Withers.

It said if for any reason Knight Frank won its case against Kuyt, which he is staunchly defending, Withers should pay him damages or cover his losses.

A hearing about the case was due to take place at the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow.

Kuyt’s lawyer Steve Morris, a partner at DWF, told the ECHO: "Confidential negotiations are progressing.

"It is ongoing. I do not think at this stage I can say any more than that.

"It is an ongoing piece of litigation that is currently still going through the courts."

The saga dates back to August 2008, when Kuyt asked Knight Frank to oversee work being done on his plush Woolton home.

The papers filed by Knight Frank said: "The claimant claims the sum of £50,600, being fees owed to the claimant for acting as contract administrators for a construction contract for refurbishment and extension works.

"The claimant acted as contract administrators until the conclusion of the works.

"At no time during the administration of the contract did the defendant [Kuyt] express dissatisfaction with the claimant’s services.

"Following the submission of the invoice, the defendant’s Dutch legal representative expressed surprise at the fees, being calculated on a percentage rather than hourly time-spent basis.

"Subsequently, vague and entirely spurious allegations have been raised about the claimant’s services and the defendant has failed and refused to pay the invoice."

Knight Frank claimed its fee was due to be £44,000 plus VAT. The firm also wants interest on the debt charged at 8% a year from April 29, 2008, to March 24, 2010, bringing its total claim to £54,248.61.

The counter-claim issued by Kuyt’s Manchester-based lawyers against Withers said that – while he denies any liability to Knight Frank LLP – if he is found to be liable then he should be entitled to damages, and/or indemnity from Withers due to its alleged breaches of duties to him.

Neither Knight Frank nor Withers said they could comment on the cases they are involved in.