Major update on bitter dispute between Dan Andrews and teenage cyclist left with life-threatening injuries after controversial crash
A dispute over a car crash involving a teenage cyclist and Daniel Andrews is headed to court after mediation talks collapsed – with one of the country’s largest law firms joining the dispute.
Ryan Meuleman, 15, was knocked off his bicycle on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula in January 2013 and left with life-threatening injuries after a crash involving an SUV carrying Mr Andrews, his wife Catherine and their family.
Slater & Gordon represented the family in seeking compensation from Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission. The Meulemans claim that they never requested the law firm’s help, but received it anyway.
Ryan’s father, Peter Meuleman, said he could not discuss what happened during the mediation, but Slater & Gordon never explained how they became involved when the accident was still not public knowledge.
‘Why has a Labor law firm suddenly appeared out of nowhere wanting to act for my son?’ Mr Meuleman told the Herald Sun.
“I haven’t contacted them, and my ex-wife hasn’t contacted them either. We both thought the other parent had registered with them.
“But the fact is, they just showed up and acted like they were in charge. How did they get my mobile number? How did they get my name?’
Mr Meuleman claims Slater & Gordon did everything they could to keep the crash out of the media and negotiated the deal in secret because they seemed more concerned about Mr Andrews than Ryan.
Peter Meuleman’s son Ryan was involved in a horrific car crash with former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews in January 2013 (photo, Peter Meuleman)
The Meuleman family have accused Slater & Gordon, where former Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard once worked, of failing to conduct a “full and proper investigation into the circumstances” of the collision and of failing to act in Ryan’s best interests.
After the accident, Ryan had to receive a five-fold blood transfusion to save his life and lost 90 percent of his spleen.
From the $100,000 compensation settlement, Slater & Gordon took $20,000 in fees.
Slater & Gordon denies the Meuleman family’s claims and said they will defend the proceedings scheduled for a High Court hearing in May.
Mr and Mrs Andrews insist they had come to a complete stop on Melbourne Road before turning right when Ryan struck them ‘at high speed’ at a ‘perfect right angle’ on Ridley Street in Blairgowrie.
Former Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner Raymond Shuey, a respected road safety expert, called the Andrews family’s story “improbable and unlikely”.
He also said the investigation by two police officers was so flawed that it appeared to be “an overt cover-up to prevent a political figure from being involved in a life-threatening crash.”
“It was definitely not a low-speed accident as the primary factor was vehicle speed,” Dr. wrote. Shuey after gathering evidence from case documents, witness statements and visiting the accident scene to reconstruct the crash.
Dan (pictured left) and Catherine (pictured right) Andrews have insisted they did nothing wrong
After the accident, Ryan had to receive a five-fold blood transfusion to save his life and lost 90 percent of his spleen.
He concluded that Mr Andrews’ vehicle most likely ‘made a sharp turn at high speed, cut the bend and was still on the wrong side of the carriageway in Ridley Street, 27 meters from Melbourne Road when the collision occurred’.
Victoria Police have declined to reopen the case or answer specific questions arising from the report prepared by Dr Shuey on behalf of Meuleman family lawyers.
“As previously stated, Victoria Police conducted a thorough investigation into this matter, as did Victorian corruption watchdog IBAC, and all findings were consistent,” a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“We have no further comment on this matter.”
The Andrews family has criticized Dr. Shuey’s review, labeling it “terrible conspiracy theories.”