The UK Supreme Court is considering two landmark cases where women claim their ex-husbands misled divorce courts about the true value of their assets, potentially opening the door for thousands of similar claims.
Alison Sharland, 48, from Wilmslow, accepted £10.35 million in cash and properties from her ex-husband Charles in a divorce settlement, believing it was half his fortune. It later emerged that shares in his software company AppSense were worth significantly more, with one estimate valuing the firm at $1 billion (£656 million). Charles Sharland was found to have 'laid a false trail by his dishonest evidence' and hidden plans to float the company.
Varsha Gohil settled for £270,000 plus a car from her former husband Bhadresh in 2004. He was later jailed for fraud and money-laundering involving sums up to £37 million. The Court of Appeal described him as an 'out-and-out rogue involved in financial criminality on an eye-watering scale'. Despite this, the court ruled in his favour, saying evidence from his criminal trial could not be used.
Both women argue they have been shortchanged and denied justice. Their counsel told the Supreme Court that fear of 'floodgates opening' should not prevent reopening settlements where fraud has occurred. Lawyers warn that dishonesty in divorce proceedings makes a mockery of the court system and suggest criminal sanctions may be necessary to ensure accurate testimony.
The Supreme Court's decision is expected to have wide-ranging implications for divorce settlements, particularly in high-value cases where assets may be concealed.
