him by a firm controlled by his former boss Charles Vaucrosson.

Mr. Vaucrosson's Amulion Investments Ltd. is claiming for repayment of a loan -- totalling nearly $550,000 plus interest -- from Mr. Hall.

Mr. Vaucrosson, whose legal firm folded after he was found guilty in 1995 of stealing nearly $400,000 from the estate of journalist Percy Ball, was released last December after serving one year of a two-year sentence.

He claimed last night: "I have an equitable charge against Mr. Hall's house.

"Mr. Hall signed a document binding himself to pay me. I have recorded it against his house.'' Mr. Vaucrosson added: "I hope that he will pay me off because I will use the money to pay off other people I owe.'' Mr. Hall worked for Mr. Vaucrosson's legal firm before striking out on his own.

Earlier this year, Mr. Vaucrosson told The Royal Gazette he was owed around $4 million in debts and that he had lodged a series of writs to recover the money.

Mr. Vaucrosson -- while accepting his liability for Mr. Ball's missing cash as head of the firm which bore his name -- maintains his innocence of a crime and is pressing ahead with an appeal against the conviction.

Mr. Hall -- who is believed to be in Canada -- could not be reached for comment last night.