Ex-nurse a squatter: adjudicator

Jennifer Scott. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Jennifer Scott. PHOTO: ODT FILES
A controversial Dunedin former nurse has had another legal calamity — this time in the Tenancy Tribunal.

Jennifer Scott, whose nursing registration was cancelled last week over her spreading of anti-vaccine disinformation and anti-transgender vitriol online, was evicted from her Macandrew Bay home last month.

At a Tenancy Tribunal hearing last month, Ms Scott made "wide-ranging claims" including assault, unlawful entry, breaches around storage, withholding of goods and breach of privacy.

But adjudicator Rex Woodhouse said the tribunal did not have jurisdiction to hear her case.

Ms Scott, he said, was a "squatter" and it was therefore not a dispute between tenant and landlord.

"Ms Scott does not have a right to occupy the premises, and nor does she pay rent, so there is no ‘tenancy’", Mr Woodhouse said.

The disgraced nurse defaulted on her mortgage payments and the home was sold in April.

The tribunal issued a possession order in favour of the new owner but Ms Scott remained at the address until her eviction, the tribunal heard.

The owner had since put her "extensive belongings" in storage.

While the parties spoke at this month’s hearing and appeared to reach an agreement in relation to those items, Mr Woodhouse said it may not be the end of the matter.

"I suspect there will be a continuing dispute in relation to debts incurred by the respondent, but those will not be disputes that the Tenancy Tribunal could consider."

Ms Scott sought name suppression but that was declined given she had been unsuccessful in her course of action.

The former nurse also faces a bill of more than $45,000 to foot the costs of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal two-day hearing she did not attend.

Her conduct was likely to bring discredit to the profession, the tribunal ruled.

Days after that hearing, Scott started a Givealittle page entitled "mandated and homeless", asking for for donations so she and her partner — convicted murderer Gresham Kirsten Leith Marsh (now David Jones) — could buy a caravan or campervan.

She has since refused to comment.

rob.kidd@odt.co.nz , Court reporter

 

 

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