Gloriavale leaders have been accused of misleading the Employment Court over their use of lawyers.
Late last year, the community's leaders informed the hearing they would represent themselves. But when closing submissions began on Tuesday morning, they once again had legal counsel.
Gloriavale leader Samuel Valor legally represented the Christian commune on Tuesday, as he's done since the hearing resumed this year. Except on Tuesday, he wasn't alone.
He was joined by lawyer Carter Pearce, despite dumping their legal team late last year.
Brian Henry lead the team representing six former residents who claim they were employees while living in the reclusive community.
He agreed to change the order of closing submissions and go first until Gloriavale turned up with a lawyer on Tuesday.
"The second defendants told the court they were impecunious, they could no longer retain lawyers. They told the world that," said Henry.
Chief Judge Christina Inglis stepped in after Henry argued they had been misled.
"He's suggesting that you've been lurking in the background ever since. If they had known that Mr Henry wouldn't have agreed to the reversal of the normal order," said Inglis.
Gloriavale's legal representative argued back saying the plaintiffs hadn't been misled.
"The second defendants have never said anything that was untrue. At the time they were being self-representing up until this point," Pearce said on behalf of Gloriavale.
Henry exercised his right to pull out of the agreed order, however, no one else was ready to start their submissions.
"This is really regrettable where we've ended up and I must say I'm disappointed in it. We'll adjourn," Judge Inglis remarked.
Closing arguments are rescheduled to start on Wednesday.
