Gunns20 trial date set

Gunns20 is going to trial in February 2010 – more than five years and millions of dollars in legal costs since the first writ was issued. 

The Gunns 20 and supporters outside Melbourne Supreme Court, 2005. Photo: Peter Casamento

The 20 original defendants have been whittled down to seven as Gunns’ various writs were successively thrown out. 

The main trial involving six defendants will be heard by Justice Forrest in the Victorian Supreme Court; the seventh defendant, Dr Frank Nicklason, is the subject of a separate defamation case.

Meanwhile Gunns sued another 13 forest defenders in December 2008 – the Triabunna13. The writ claims aggravated and exemplary damages because their actions “were calculated and/or likely to publicise the political beliefs of Defendants and to thereby gain media publicity for each of them and/or for the beliefs which they hold".

A counter-claim against Gunns has been lodged and in a preliminary hearing the judge has determined that it should be heard separately.

The Gunns20 writ was issued at the same time the company applied for approval to build its proposed pulp-mill.  In the ensuring years, neither the case nor the pulp-mill have advanced appreciably.

Read more:

Gunns20 Cocktail Fundraiser
Event in Melbourne, 6-8pm Thursday 27 August, 2009
Support Gunns20 and the Triabunna13; help bring a stop to litigation against public participation; and enjoy an evening of fine wine and information. More >>

A great day for our forests and freedom of speech
16 March 2009
The tables have turned on woodchip company Gunns Ltd and its four-year long legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court against the Wilderness Society is over. Its claims for $3.5 million in damages have turned into a $350,000 payment to the Wilderness Society. More >>