ACC's Continuing Persecution of Mike Dixon-McIvor

Early this week I wrote about the bullying that ACC had subjected advocate Mike Dixon-McIvor to in its campaign of payback. They had indulged in behaviour which saw them actively seek to deprive him of the means to earn an income by writing to his clients advising that he couldn't work for them.

ACC also attempted to prosecute him for fraud in a case that was thrown out before trial. ACC were made to pay costs to Mike.

Now having lost his home and income thanks to ACC Mike is conducting a hunger strike on the doorsteps of ACC's plush Wellington offices in Aitken Street.

But now it seems that ACC's bullying of Mike continues even while he protests. At night as he maintains his presence outside their building an ACC security guard wakes him up every two hours. Last night the guard admitted he did this on the instructions of ACC. The denial of sleep in this way is getting pretty close to a form of sleep deprivation. Also Wellington City Council received an "anonymous" complaint about Mike's dog, who was his companion on the protest. Following an approach by the council, Mike's dog has had to be sent away.

The streets of our capital are cold at night, and to deprive an old man of both sleep and a source of warmth as he undertakes a hunger strike is particularly cruel.

ACC Corporate Bully Par Excellence

Advocate Mike Dixon-McIvor was unsuccessfully prosecuted by ACC for fraud. Over the years he has helped literally hundreds of claimants get their due entitlements from a heartless organisation, that is infamous for employing a suite of "experts" that seem to specialise in writing reports to deny or attack the opinions of other health experts who believe people have suffered injuries caused by accidents. Alongside this ACC while limiting or striving to deny the injured compensation think nothing of hiring private detectives to follow people, even lurking outside private residences and going through people's rubbish bins.

Mike through his tireless and passionate advocacy fought for the little person and often won. ACC wanted payback. They sought to prosecute him for fraud. His crime, assisting a brain damaged man to obtain his full ACC entitlement, using the rules, protocols and procedures applicable at the time.

Years later the procedures changed and ACC attempted to have a crack at him under the new protocol. ACC  pursued Mike relentlessly with the full force of the Crown at their bidding. Unsurprisingly the case was thrown out before trial. Ultimately, ACC were compelled to pay costs for this. 

Unfortunately Mike's costs were considerably more than just legal bills. In the meanwhile thanks to ACC he was declared bankrupt after ACC wrote to his clients attacking his good name. In over six years of persecution he lost his income and ultimately his home. 

ACC have deep pockets and have hired a top QC to try and shut the door on Mike. In the meanwhile he lives rough outside ACC's doorstep. Mike is on a hunger-strike and is literally starving himself while the suits working for ACC file past supping their lattes every morning. In many ways this captures perfectly the corporate arrogance and uncaring bullying that ACC has become infamous for. If you are going past Aitken Street in Wellington call by and give Mike your support.