A family which runs a well-known property firm with operations in lettings and block management is facing a £300,000 legal bill after it withdrew a defamation case against a leaseholder who had lived in a residential development it managed.

Nick Hargrave, who is well known as a former political advisor to Theresa May while she was in No.10, had faced a claim for defamation from the Davidoff family, whose members run a group of companies that trade as ABC Estates and who sought an injunction, unlimited damages and costs against him.

The family is headed up by 55-year-old Richard (or Raziel) Davidoff and his wife along with two daughters all of whom are or have been directors of some of the companies behind ‘ABC Estates’.

They had claimed earlier this year that a tweet and online commentary by Hargrave were libellous.

These were prompted by his experiences of being a leaseholder within a block of flats managed by the firm in Battersea, London, prompting him to make critical comments about the firm’s conduct, and to also retweet commentary by campaigning group Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP) about a previous court case involving the firm.

But after Hargrave’s legal team at Payne Hicks Beach served his defence of the Davidoff family’s claim, which relied “amongst other things on a detailed defence of truth, honest opinion and publication on a matter of public interest”, the claim was discontinued.

The Davidoffs have now agreed to pay an agreed sum in respect of Hargrave’s legal costs, understood by LKP to be £300,000.

Extremely grateful

Hargrave has issued a public statement saying: “I am extremely grateful to Hanna Basha and Nick Grant for their wise and expert counsel through this case, as well as that of Adam Speker KC and Sam Rowe at 5RB. They were first class advisers.”

Hargrave also told The Neg earlier this year that: “It is chilling that Richard Davidoff and ABC Estates are able to use the libel process to shut down criticism”.

Basha adds: “It is very unusual for claimants to discontinue a claim in defamation and I am pleased that we were able to support Nick through the case to a successful conclusion, including the recovery of the majority of his legal costs.”

The Negotiator has approached Richard Davidoff for comment.