[imagesource: Professor Anele Hammond]

In a dramatic turn of events, a South African professor of finance and law, currently tackling an academic assignment in Switzerland, is pursuing nearly half a million rand in damages from Biddulphs International.

The removal and storage company is accused of damaging her beloved 2006 Porsche in a crash, only to further complicate matters by attempting to make repairs. This incident has sparked a legal battle that promises to be as gripping as the classic car at its centre.

Weekend Argus reports that Professor Anele Hammond laid a criminal charge against Biddulphs at the Rosebank police station. In the court summons, Hammond, a respected advocate of the High Court of South Africa, detailed her agreement with Biddulphs International. In February 2024, she entrusted the company with the transport of her cherished vehicle and other personal belongings from her Clifton residence to St. Gallen, Switzerland, where she dedicates some time to research and academic pursuits.

Hammond said that on her visit to Biddulphs to conclude the shipping transaction, Carlo Brown, the Biddulphs Cape Town branch manager, said: “Professor please drop your car off on a Friday so I can enjoy it for the weekend.”

“I froze,” she told Weekend Argus. “Seeing my shock, Carlo laughed out loud, pretending to be joking. To my utter dismay, today I am in court because, indeed, my classic 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S was driven on a public road without my knowledge and/or consent and severely damaged in the process.”

Hammond said she even drained all the fuel from her vehicle in preparation for its transportation. Hammond alleges that Biddulphs mishandled her beloved Porsche by using it without her consent and mistakenly fueling it with diesel instead of petrol. Ignoring the clear distinction between the two, they continued to drive the car, ultimately compromising the engine and putting her Porsche at risk.

To make matters worse, she said that during this time the car was involved in an accident which damaged the body of the car.

The summons revealed that rather than informing Hammond of the damages or taking her Porsche to an authorised dealer for proper restoration, the moving company opted to use an unapproved backyard panel shop. This decision appears to be a misguided attempt to cover up the damage and evade responsibility for their actions.

The document reports that Biddulphs allegedly employed the services of their in-house mechanic to “fiddle” with the engine, causing irreparable harm.

A troubling incident where a mechanic reportedly snapped off the front seats to gain access to the engine components was also detailed, ultimately failing to repair the car.

The Professor contends that Biddulphs expedited the shipping of her vehicle to Switzerland while it was still damaged, seemingly aiming to shift the blame for the vehicle’s condition onto the international handlers.

“I make this claim boldly as Biddulphs is already under investigation for a similar transgression,’ she told the Weekend Argus, giving a blow by blow account of her discovery.

“I am grateful for this investigation as otherwise I would have never known about the damages to my Porsche had it not been for the ongoing investigation”.

“At the time that the motor vehicle was handed over to the defendant it was in pristine condition,” the court paper reads, only for their reckless action leaving Hammond’s prized vehicle in a state of disrepair.

According to the court papers, in addition to the damage to the engine, the Porsche received damage to its front bumper, the front grille, the radiator grille, the front spoiler and the front protection bar and seat rail covers.

“Towards the end of April 2024, I was called to a meeting in Switzerland and asked to delay my shipment to Switzerland as there was an investigation in progress and that shipping my goods at that time would compromise the investigation. I complied and ensured that Biddulphs delay shipping”.

“On 15 July 2024, I was called again and told that Biddulphs is shipping my vehicle despite my express instructions; I was then shown video footage of my Porsche driving on a public road in Cape Town, photographs of physical damages to my Porsche, and my Porsche being mishandled by unqualified personnel.

She said when she confronted Carlo telephonically, he swore on his children’s lives that her car had never left the Biddulph’s yard.

Hammond is seeking a total of R181,772.96 to cover the extensive repairs needed for her Porsche. This includes diagnostic tests at Porsche Centre Cape Town, as well as replacing the fuel tanks, fuel pumps, spark plugs, and damaged seat rail covers.

Additionally, she aims to recover costs associated with rectifying the substandard work performed on the vehicle’s body after the damage occurred. In addition to the damages, Professor Hammond incurred travel and accommodation costs including having to stay in South Africa for a month trying to resolve this matter with Biddulphs.

The Weekend Argus has proof of the claims, amounting to R255,233, with a total cost of R400,958 20 in damages, including the cost of a suit.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Hammond registered a criminal charge against the company and the matter was still under investigation.

[source:iol]