Friends of Forests and Free Speech - Media Releases

Gunns case against Hobart doctor struck out! 17 September 2007

Legal — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:28:30 -0500

Master Evans of the Victorian Supreme Court today struck out Gunns’ statement of claim. This is the fourth statement of claim in the Gunns 20 case to be struck out. The statement of claim sought damages from Hobart doctor, Dr Frank Nicklason for alleged comments he made in 2002 in relation to potential health risks from woodchip piles in Burnie, Tasmania. Dr Nicklason will now wait and see if Gunns file a new statement of claim. Dr Nicklason said, after learning of the outcome:

Gunns third statement of claim rejected. August 29 2006

Update — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:39:22 -0500

Justice Bernard Bongiorno has rejected Gunns’ third statement of claim in its entirety. The company has been given until 19 October to tell the court if it will try to introduce another statement of claim.

In the Victorian Supreme Court, Justice Bongiorno said that the statement of claim 'cannot be allowed to stand in its present form’. Its size and complexity places an unreasonable burden and enormous cost on individual defendants.

Defendants cautiously welcomed the decision, but pointed out the unfairness of the process. Nearly two years on, after huge expense and anxiety, the case is no further advanced and Gunns still has the option to make a fourth statement of claim.

You can now download a scan of the decision below. Also you can view the full reasons for the decision at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2006/329.html

Victory for McLibel 2 against U.K. Government 2005

Media — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 08:00:00 -0600

McLibel Support Campaign
P R E S S . R E L E A S E . 15/02/05

Victory for McLibel 2 against UK Government

- Verdict of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg
- Campaigners celebrate 20 years of growing protests against McWorld