26-March-2019 – AFR

26th March 2019

Reporter – Larry Schlesinger

Read the Article

“Famed Hopetoun Tea Rooms in messy dispute with the Block Arcade”

It was during the VCAT hearing on the 26th March 2019 , whilst my husband Kon Koutoumanos was being questioned by the Cohen counsel, Mr. Wise, that Mr. Grant Cohen sitting in the front row of the public gallery, turned around to Mr. Larry Schlesinger – reporter at the Australian Financial Review, who was sitting in the row behind him, and nodded to him to meet outside the Court Room in session.

Mr. Grant Cohen got up, minutes later the nod, and Mr. Larry Schlesinger followed.

So what happened in VCAT with the ?

26-MAR-2019 – Day 9 of 18 day hearing

Senior Member Walker was the member in the VCAT hearing between FineTea Pty Ltd vs Block Arcade.

The counsel for the Block Arcade was Mr. Michael Wise QC.

The counsel representing me FineTea Pty Ltd t/as Hopetoun Tea Rooms est. 1892 ™ was Mr. Luke Virgona.

26-MAR-2019 – 11:00 am (Morning session)

Mr. Michael Wise QC was cross-examining my husband.

In the public gallery of the Tribunal was myself, and the usual legal counsel participants.

Mr. Grant Cohen was seated at the front row of the public gallery, I was seated at the rear of the public gallery.


On this day, we had a new person in the public gallery, which we later found to be Mr. Larry Schlesinger.

A reporter for the Australian Financial Review. Mr. Larry Schlesinger, was seated in the middle rows of the public gallery. Larry was seated in the row between myself and Mr. Grant Cohen, so I was in full view of both and anyone entering or leaving the Court room.

Mr. Larry Schlesinger was taking written notes during the cross-examination of my husband Kon Koutoumanos.

At one point Mr. Grant Cohen turned around and nodded to Larry Schlesenger. He then got up and exited the Court room. Mr. Larry Schlesinger soon followed.

Having witnessed the nod, I excused myself from the Court and upon exiting I saw Grant Cohen speaking intimately and intensely with Mr. Larry Schlesinger.

They both looked at me and briefly stopped talking until I distanced myself.

At the time, I was unaware of who Mr. Larry Schlesinger was, but I assumed he was part of the legal counsel of the other side.

A few minutes later, upon my return to the Court room – still in the foyer, I found them in the same spot, still in discussions.

When Grant Cohen returned to the Court room, he had a big smirk on his face. Mr. Larry Schlesinger did not return with him.

Grant Cohen placed himself in the direct view of my husband responding to the Cohen’s barrister, Mr. Michael Wise QC. Grant continued to smirk and laugh to himself with the intention of unnerving and intimidating my husband.

Later that same evening, a story broke on the Australian Financial review with private and confidential information / evidence to the Court hearing, clearly provided by Grant Cohen.

See Highlights – in RED – below dated 26th March 2019 – 19:33

It was evident that Grant Cohen had purposely invited Mr. Larry Schlesinger to the Court the day my husband was being cross-examined and further personally provided additional information used in the story in the AFR.

This explains why Mr. Grant Cohen was smirking during the Tribunal Session. He had just invited Mr. Larry Schlesinger to the Tribunal hearing and disclosed private material for publication of the article. (Despite Senior Member Walkers strict instructions not to speak to the media)

My husband even interjected the Court hearing when he was being smirked at by Grant Cohen (see below).

The following afternoon on the 27th March 2019, Senior Member Walker voiced his disapproval of the leaking of in court evidence, but stopped short of making anyone accountable.

On the 5th April 2019 – when Grant Cohen was cross-examined on this by my Barrister Luke Virgona, well – you make up your mind on who Grant Cohen is.

Excerpt from the transcripts below:

Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (above)