The thirst for justice is the only thing holding Bill Forge together. But unfortunately the 76-year-old retiree's home may not last the distance.
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Mr Forge bought the Albury property in the mid-1990s as a knock-down rebuild were he could see out his retirement years. But a Commonwealth lawsuit means he cannot modify the house, which is falling apart around him.
An external wall has begun to sag from water damage and cracks in the plaster grow by the week.
The property is part of assets frozen when Mr Forge, a shareholder in Davis Samuel Corporate Advisory Services, was pursued by the Commonwealth on criminal charges more than a decade ago. The federal government alleged the company was at fault after $8 million of taxpayers' funds was deposited into their bank accounts by an unauthorised transfer in 1998.
Shareholders beat the charges by arguing government negligence caused the transaction, but many investors had their assets frozen nonetheless. They fought back with a $4.3 billion counter-claim, to recoup earnings they alleged they lost when the lawsuit prevented them from introducing a ''lottery style'' capital-raising plan to Australian financial markets.
Treasury has listed the case as a financial risk for the federal government since 2008. It was briefly upgraded to ''quantifiable'' in 2011 in recognition that a loss for the government was a real threat. But the case has vanished from recent economic forecasts.
Mr Forge hopes the 14-year legal battle, which he says has damaged his health and broken his marriage, is set for the final chapter in the ACT Supreme Court within the coming months.
The case was heard before Justice Richard Refshauge in 2008, who reserved judgment.
But a decision could be within sight after Justice Refshauge was in February excused from his duties for an undisclosed amount of time - believed to be at least six months - to allow him to deal with a backlog of cases awaiting judgment.
While Justice Refshauge cannot be directed to work through the cases in a particular way, it is understood he has indicated he would largely do so chronologically.
Chief Justice Terence Higgins said he was confident his judicial colleague would clear the outstanding matters within the set time.
However, Mr Forge said a decision - no matter the outcome - would not return his health and lost years.
"They've taken away my retirement years and sent me broke," Mr Forge said.
''When this started, I was 62, fit and able. Now I've got ongoing health problems and spent my life savings on lawyers.
''Virtually my entire life has been impounded by the government and, no matter the outcome, they can't give me back those years.''