NL

Anne Squires files defence to lawsuit over personal loans

The owner of Exit Realty on the Rock has filed a statement of defence to a recent lawsuit accusing her of failing to repay $110,000 in outstanding personal loans.
Anne Squires of Exit Realty on the Rock is pictured in a February 2016 file image. (Meghan McCabe/CBC)

The owner of Exit Realty on the Rock has filed a statement of defence to a recent lawsuit accusing her of failing to repay $110,000 in outstanding personal loans.

Anne Squires filed the handwritten document at Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court last week.

In it, she asks for more documentation related to the alleged loans, including copies of cheques, promissory notes and any signed documents showing agreed repayment terms.

In mid-February, St. John's businessman Joseph Greene filed a statement of claim alleging to have loaned Squires a total of $130,000 over four payments in 2014, plus another $20,000 in December 2015.

Squires said in court documents she can only find one note for $30,000 related to those 2014 loans. She added that the December 2015 loan was a "two-day loan" with an interest payment made, and she assumes the $20,000 is also still outstanding.

Squires also asks Greene to produce records related to taxes he paid on interest earnings related to any loans. Greene's court filings note that Squires made repayments totalling nearly $40,000.

None of the claims made by either side has been tested in court.

Another lawsuit pending 

Squires has yet to file a statement of defence to a second lawsuit filed against her last month.

In that court action, Paradise businessman Hantang Li alleged that he loaned Exit Realty on the Rock $100,000 in August 2015, at an interest rate of 32 per cent per year.

The court filings claim that Squires personally guaranteed the promissory note backing the loan to the company.

Those claims have also not been proven in court.

Real-estate company in receivership 

Exit Realty on the Rock had its licence suspended by the province on Feb. 4 and was sent into receivership the next day.

More than 60 creditors may be owed money.

Police executed search warrants at Exit Realty on the Rock's head office last month.

Squires is under police investigation, for theft, fraud and breach of trust. She is not facing any charges.