John Hancock & Bianca Rinehart File New Lawsuit vs Siblings Ginia & Hope
The four adult children of Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person, are now evenly divided since the new lawsuit filed by the two eldest pit them against their two youngest siblings.
The Australian reports that John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart filed another lawsuit before a Federal Court as the family members fight over control of a trust fund established by their patriarch, Lang Hancock, the father of Gina.
Previously, only youngest daughter Ginia sided with her mum, but another daughter, Hope Welker, crossed sides after she agreed to settle financially with her once-estranged mother. The act made Hope the "enemy" of her two elder siblings.
Brisbane Times reports that lawyers of John and Bianca served on Friday evening the new claims on lawyers of their mother and two sisters. But the mining magnate did not lose time and by Monday had her legal team working on the case.
David Studdy, who represents Hancock Prospecting, told the Federal Court on Monday that the charges made by John and Bianca, related to "very valuable" assets and shares held by their mum's companies, are "very grave allegations." But a company spokesman said the charges are spurious and will be defended.
Like the other legal battles the parties involved in the Rinehart family feud are facing, the lawyers were able to convince the court to suppress the contents of the claim and other documents, at least until the next hearing by early next week.
"This is a private matter and it should be dealt with in private," the Hancock Prospecting spokesman stressed.
Meanwhile, The Australian reports that Rinehart resigned as board member of Ten Network. She is the largest shareholder of Fairfax, holding a 14.99 percent stake and another 10 percent stake.
Talks of a billion-dollar merger between Ten and Fairfax could unite the billionaire's two media investments.
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