Judge Says Loggers SLAPP Suit "Embarrassing"

Australian forestry giant Gunns has suffered a major setback in its $A6.3 million SLAPP suit against 20 environmentalists and environmental groups. Last December Gunns filed a 216-page statement of claim against the environmentalists and then, earlier this month, submitted a redrafted 360-page version. Supreme Court Justice Bernard Bongiorno told the company that unless it submitted a "radically altered" version of its claim within 28 days the case would be struck out. He described aspects of Gunns revised claim as "embarrassing" and said that "it would be a singularly unprofitable exercise to attempt to describe every defect in it which needs correction." Responding to the decision Gunns Exective Chairman, John Gay, optimistically told reporters that "suggestions have been made for some redrafting."

Comments

Senator Bob Brown from the Greens is the hero here. The ultra-sensible Mr Brown leads a committed team against the usual corporate thugs, and they guard more than the forest. Firmly opposed to the "war of error' Mr Brown addressed the President directly in the Australian parliament on the issue of Australians held in Guantanamo. Go the Greens!