2026-06-09 Complaint to OLSC about Peter Livers
Peter Livers exaggerated fees and misrepresentation
This is a complaint to the Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner about solicitor Peter James Livers. A complaint made in 2024-02-19 has been rewritten to form this new complaint because of the new evidence. The initial complaint was about what happened at the PIC hearing. This revised complaint contains new evidence concerning the financial implications for me arising from Mr Livers representation of my claim at the PIC on 2023-07-26.
After the PIC hearing, I sought copies of all material submitted to the PIC, including correspondence between Mr Livers and the Insurer, as well as documents exchanged between Mr Livers and the PIC. Once I obtained this information, I realized the extent of the financial implications arising from Mr Livers' mishandling of my claim. Furthermore, upon reviewing the submissions and records provided to the PIC, I identified missing documentation and documents containing dates that had been incorrectly altered after they were received by Mr Livers and before they were submitted to the PIC.
My name is Dr Alfonsas Stonis
Address:
Mobile:
Email: see contacts on main page
Solicitor Peter James Livers from law firm Slattery Thompson
Address: Suite 1, 8-10 Clarke Street, Earlwood, NSW 2206
Email: livers@slatterythompson.com.au
Phone: 02 9559 2333
Dr Alfonsas Stonis 2024-02-19
Complaint Details
Have you tried to resolve matter with the lawyer?
No.
If yes, how? If not, why not?
When I questioned the work Mr Livers had done, he refused to admit any wrongdoing. Even in his last email, he insisted that his fees be paid in full and did not acknowledge any misconduct. However, the latest information I have received indicates significant misconduct. There is no realistic prospect of achieving any outcome by addressing these issues directly with him.
Please provide a summary of your complaint and include the following details:
- What happened? Who was involved?
- Details of significant events, such as dates of meetings and court hearings.
- What are your concerns?
Peter James Livers is a solicitor from Bechara Slattery Law Firm, formerly known as Slattery Thompson Law Firm, that represented me at the Personal Injury Commission Conference 2023-06-28 for my personal injury claim. The conference went terribly badly. There were actions by Livers that I identify as professional misconduct. The result of Mr Livers handling of the claim was that the PIC did not have a chance to consider all the relevant matters affecting the determination. Specifically, this arose due to:
- Mr Livers submitted incomplete or inaccurate documentation to the Personal Injury Commission and failed to raise the key issues requested and agreed upon
- Mr Livers gave damaging advice during the PIC conference
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for support
- Mr Livers did not share relevant information as required by his role during the preparation process for PIC assessment conference (disputes for medical and legal fees)
- Mr Livers did not action agreed work promptly and within the timeframes required to support the claims process.
- Mr Livers facilitated the dissemination of misinformation and engaged in deceptive conduct related to my claim.
- Important documentation could not be considered at the PIC Assessment Conference. My final Statement (2023-04-26), including references, was provided to Mr Livers and incorporated into the overall Submission. The presentation, and ordering, of the submission documents (PIC Reference, AD11-2, 333 pages in total) made it difficult for the hearing to consider my position. This handling of my records, and unclear presentation of the overall Submission, resulted in obfuscation of my Statement (2026-04-26):
- Mr Livers failed to challenge misleading work capacity claims made by QBE’s solicitor at the PIC (2023-06-28), resulting in them being accepted as true. I had explicitly asked for him to dispute these particulars on my behalf. He failed to do this despite me making it a key condition of my agreeing to engage him as my solicitor.
- In relation to the dispute about Medical expenses: Prior to the PIC hearing, I provided a list of medical expenses in the Statement, which was subsequently disputed by the Insurance company. The PIC responded to this by requesting additional information. Mr Livers did not advise that this happened and as a result, I could not provide the information and medical expenses were not considered for compensation.
- In relation to the dispute about Legal expenses: I had asked him about compensation of legal expenses by QBE Insurance and he said there was no information about it. I was later aware of a dispute from QBE about these legal expenses.
- Mr Livers did not submit some documents to the PIC or altered them - the main bundle is missing 31 documents, 2 have changed dates, and several more are missing from another set of documents
Financial implications of Mr Livers representation of my claim:
- Difference between what was calculated at the PIC and what I have received because of the law.
- From the calculated Mr Livers submitted to the PIC: Loss of income $1,599,316.65, plus super at 9% $143,938.49, total $1,743,255.14. Difference between submissions estimated and received compensation of $250,000 ($100.00 for past 8 years and $150,000 for future income loss): $1,493,255.14.
- Based on Compensation Act 1999: $2,551,486.90, super $229,633.82, total loss of income $2,781,495.04. The difference between Mr Livers’ calculations and the calculations under the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 is $1,038,239.90.
All calculations are based on the minimum market salary for Java developers of $125,000 per year.
How do you want us to help you to resolve your complaint?
Please note: One of our officers may contact you to discuss what we can and we cannot do
- Check if Livers voided the contract by misrepresenting, negligence and providing incorrect information. If so, make the contract void.
- If the contract is still void his bill is grossly exaggerated as his contribution is minimal. Please help me to reduce it to a reasonable sum.
- I believe some of his actions are unprofessional and at least negligent. I do suspect corruption. I hope you will take appropriate action.
What area of legal service does this complaint arise from?
Personal injuries
Are you disputing the legal costs you have been charged by your lawyer?
Yes
Have you received a bill from your lawyer?
Yes
Please provide details of the bills that you have received from your lawyer. Please attach copies.
2023-12-19 I have received an estimate of Livers fees. It is still fully unpaid. ["2023-12-19 SKM_C25823121908250 - Livers fees estimate.pdf"]
Notes There were two main reasons why I will need to update my complaint or submit a new one about conduct of Livers:
- Some information is not available yet
- Difficulties due to my mental health problems
I am waiting for Livers to deal with Medicare. He sent me some forms to complete in December 2023. These forms had to be completed before the PIC assessment conference if I understand it correctly. I have completed and returned them. I am waiting for a response from Medicare and to see what Livers will do about Medicare Recovery.
I am also waiting for information from PIC. I got a transcript from the PIC assessment conference, but a large part of the assessment conference is missing. Some parts are identified as "not transferable", but there is also part of the conversation missing. For example, there were no questions about personal injury claim form from Mr Ryan or questions from Mr Livers after the member said it was Mr Liver's turn to ask questions. I requested an audio recording of the conference.
I am collecting other information related to Livers actions and I will submit an update on the complaint once this information becomes available.
I am trying to describe everything as accurately as I can. Unfortunately, many of these memories cause high levels of stress. It quickly triggers PTSD response and shuts down my ability to think. Often, I have to take a long break or can continue only the next day or even later.
There were also other problems related to PTSD as some memories got blocked and I am at risk of missing some important information while writing a complaint, but it might come back later. Also when stressed I may not express myself very clearly, partially it is due to the fact that then I think in Lithuanian and may lose some meaning in translation. However, I do my best to be precise and I try to present facts accurately. I am also tired all the time and I constantly have to push myself to exhaustion while still getting only several productive hours a week. I dedicate all my time and energy to solving my legal problems as it is also a way to get better. I hope I am not missing any deadlines this time.
Background
I was cycling in Sydney when a car from oncoming traffic made a right turn straight into me on 2015-03-30. I was sure I was going to die when I saw a car accelerating towards me. I survived, but among other things the fear stayed. Since then, I am struggling with PTSD.
I was frustrated with the way QBE (drivers insurance company) was managing the claim, so I initially contacted Law Partners to represent me. However, I was unhappy with their representation. I feel that they did not collect or submit important information about my health problems. At the end of April 2020, I got a report by Vanitha Moodley (a psychologist hired by QBE solicitors) that had a large number of absurd errors.
Due to concerns about Law Partners’ advice about this report, I contacted one solicitor whom I knew. He recommended to me Moya de Luca-Leonard, who helped him in the past with one client who had a personal injury claim, as he worked in a different area of law. At first Leonard organised an assessment by a psychiatrist who specialises in PTSD and submitted the documents I sent to her to PIC. Independent assessment confirmed PTSD and significant impact on my life 19% whole person impairment. However, after this, in her submissions to PIC Leonard withheld information about errors in Moodley report and factually incorrect statements by Ceballos, QBE solicitor. Leonard then pushed me to accept an unfavorable settlement without any compensation for loss of past income. When I asked to submit documents to PIC for independent assessment Leonard resigned.
I had to find a new solicitor quickly to prepare and submit documents and represent me at the PIC assessment. Livers offered to represent me based on regulated fees (I did not know what it was). He also said that he has 30 years of experience in personal injury claims and is highly experienced in it. I had 2 highly exaggerated bills from previous solicitors: Law Partners $178,327.22 and Moya de Luca-Leonard $77,071.50. Livers' explanation that his fees will be determined by PIC sounded like a protection at least from fees problems I had with previous lawyers.