The West Australian,
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By KATE CAMPBELL, p 12, Monday, January 30, 2012
The State's top judge has ordered a Geraldton inventor pay more than $2 million in damages to a company that invested in his highly-touted fuel supply system now considered worthless by the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Wayne Martin found Wayne Glew, who claims WA courts and governments are unconstitutional, engaged in "deceptive and misleading conduct" against Frank Jasper Pty Ltd over his fuel vaporiser system.
Mr Glew, a former policeman who claims that Justice Martin is "corrupt" and a "liar" and his position invalid, was unaware of the $2 million damages order handed down last week when contacted by
The West Australian, but denied any wrongdoing.
He said he was unfazed by the damages order, saying the judge's decision was "fraudulent" and he would not pay a cent because the judgment could not be enforced.
Mr Glew, who has been embroiled in a long-running battle with the City of Greater Geraldton because he refuses to pay his rates, started working on his invention, said to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, in 1973.
The company made various payments to Mr Glew from 1996 to 2007 to advance the development of the system, including a $1 million fee
under a 2003 licence agreement for the company to market, sell and use the system on the east coast of America.
[Picture showing a man leaning over the engine compartment of a motor vehicle.] Adverse ruling: Wayne Glew says his fuel system is not a failed venture.
After a Supreme Court trial in September 2009, Justice Martin concluded that over those years Mr Glew had repeatedly claimed to
the company that his invention was close to being finished when that was not the case, and that it had produced good results in testing.
He said Mr Glew falsely told the company he was negotiating with Toyota, which was prepared to pay $100 million for a manufacturing
licence, and Mercedes was interested in using the system in its light aircraft.
Chief Justice Martin found there had been a "continuing course of conduct" by Mr Glew and his company, Glew Technologies, which had created a "false and misleading impression" as to the state of development of the system, its capabilities and ability to meet relevant standards.
In his decision on damages published last week, Justice Martin accepted expert evidence that Mr Clew's invention offered no benefit over existing fuel systems and was not viable because of its inability to satisfy emission requirements in Australia and the US.
However, Mr Glew said that despite Glew Technologies becoming insolvent in January last year because of the money spent on the legal case, his fuel supply system was not a failed venture and was ready for manufacture in older vehicles, with interest from another party to do so. He denied any deceptive or misleading conduct against Frank Jasper Pty Ltd.
Mr Glew made headlines late last year when he said he had helped Port Denison mother Heather Glendinning in her long-running legal battles. Police believe Ms Glendinning murdered her two daughters before killing herself. #
The Sunday Times,
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www.perthnow.com.au>, (Perth, W. Australia), <
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by Russell Quinn, Business Reporter, p 35, Sunday, February 5, 2012
ICONIC retailers are dosing down across Perth's trendiest suburbs as rising rents, dwindling sales, online competition and higher wages create a perfect storm of challenging trading conditions.
Mt Lawley landmark Planet Clothing - part of the Planet Video empire - on the corner of Walcott and Beaufort streets will close today.
Owner Haydn Robinson said he could no longer afford to pay "ridiculous" rents.
Having established the business in 1990, Mr Robinson now plans to vacate the corner property by April, relocating the music, movies, posters and ticket sales upstairs above the existing movie rentals, bookstore and cafe parts of the business.
"Our rent was doubled last year and this is what's happening," he said.
"We can't work just to pay the rent. We ran the corner for the last three years for no return. The days of retail are very much gone."
He said the "combination of high rent, high wages and high electricity costs" coupled with the growing online shopping phenomenon and an expensive three-year battle with the local council to get the cafe approved had drained both his bank account and his passion for retail.
"The council put me through hell. They left us with no reserves and no money. They have just about sent us broke," he said
After more than 33 years in retail, Runner's World on Fitzgerald St, Perth, is also dosing at the end of the month.
Owner Bob Gray said it was a hard decision but, presented with the chance to break their lease, he and his business partners decided it was time to get out.
Having moved from Subiaco in 1988, because of excessive rents, Mr Gray said ever-increasing rents had followed them to Fitzgerald St.
And the exodus of Subiaco retailers continues with 2XU Performance Centre and ladies fashion designer Zara Bryson in Hay St closing last week.
2XU Performance Centre owner Rick Alien said there was more to come in Subiaco with many businesses struggling to pay "exorbitant" rents and high wages when customers weren't spending.
It is a sentiment shared by Subiaco Business Association president Geoff Parnell, who said other local businesses affected by the general downturn were poised to close.
"There's at least one other one on Hay St called Wild Things as well as Kitale Pearls," he said.
"Both have closing-down signs." #
