Press Releases and Announcements - 17 March 2009
The Wilderness Society paid $325,000 and exonerated after four years in the Victorian Supreme Court, when a settlement is reached with Gunns.
The Wilderness Society yesterday reached a settlement with
Gunns Ltd, after four years of contentious litigation in the
Victorian Supreme Court. As part of the agreed settlement,
Gunns will pay the Wilderness Society $325,000 despite initially
suing the NGO for $3.5 million.
Maurice Blackburn Partner, who lead the Wilderness
Society's legal team, Josh Bornstein said that the outcome was the
latest chapter in an extraordinary history of legal folly commenced
by Gunns in 2004.
"In 2004, Gunns Ltd launched a civil suit against the
Wilderness Society, its officers and members of the conservation
movement claiming millions of dollars in damages. Gunn's
alleged that The Wilderness Society and others had caused
significant economic loss by reason of various protest activities
allegedly undertaken. The case has been vigorously
defended.
"The first three versions of Gunns case were thrown out
because they were essentially incomprehensible," Mr Bornstein
said.
"Now, all these years later, version number 4 has been
settled by Gunns agreeing to a substantial payment to the
Wilderness Society. I am not sure what the cost/benefit analysis is
going to look like when Gunns next updates its
shareholders.
"In my view, the case against my client has been a
colossal waste of time, money and of the resources of the Supreme
Court," Mr. Bornstein said.
However, there are seven remaining defendants
out of the original 20 still before the Victorian Supreme
Court. Claims against others, Bob Brown and Peg Putt,
have been dropped or settled in last four years.
"It is most unusual that to see the plaintiff to reach an
out of court settlement with the defendants, and agree to pay them
compensation," Mr. Bornstein said.
Details of settlement: