'Vindictive liar v bullying litigant'

THEY were once colleagues, but it's fair to say that Peter Carroll and Christine Kynaston are certainly not friends.

The pair were self-employed managers for Claims Direct, the failed personal injury litigation company. But since its collapse in 2002, Kynaston and Carroll - initially allies in an attempt to win compensation from Claims Direct founders Tony Sullman and Colin Poole - have fallen out spectacularly.

Astonishingly, their row has resulted in Carroll and Kynaston issuing more than 100 legal claims and counter-claims against each other.

Now the curtain appears to be coming down on this costly legal marathon with the last claim due to be heard this month.

The bizarre feud began when they accused each other on an internet bulletin board of being secretly in league with Sullman and Poole. Carroll allegedly sent abusive e-mails direct to Kynaston and posted them on the web. In turn, Kynaston hit back with accusations against Carroll.

After an initial claim of libel and a counter-claim, and a claim of harassment by Kynaston, Carroll bombarded the courts with submissions. Kynaston says they numbered 119 but Carroll disputes the figure.

They repeatedly visited the High Court. In one of a series of rulings over the past two months, a judge noted that only 19 had gone in Carroll's favour.

The judge said that with so many applications, some were bound to win, but the overriding impression was of an attempt to harass and bully. Carroll is now a 'vexatious litigant', no longer able to launch actions or make applications against Kynaston without legal approval.

He also received a two month suspended sentence for contempt over his behaviour, including threats to kill Kynaston, and has paid some of her costs. Kynaston did not escape censure, either, being described by another judge as ' vindictive' and prepared to lie when it suited her.

Carroll said: 'I have been accused of terrible things, but I have never been able to test them in court.'