02.04.09 Gunns looses bid for Gunns 20 trial date

In a Directions Hearing this morning in the Victorian Supreme Court, Gunns Ltd asked for the case to be set down for trial. His Honour Justice Kaye rejected this and ordered the parties to continue with mediation.

Also this morning Gunns discontinued its case against Ben Morrow (defendant #13) as it relates to the Styx part of the claim. This concerned alleged protests in the Styx valley in 2003. Mr Morrow is now out of the case entirely. Mr Morrow has not given any undertakings in relation to engaging in protests or entering Gunns’ land. Gunns have been ordered to pay Mr Morrow’s legal costs of the Styx claim estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Gunns have also discontinued their case against Louise Morris in relation to the Styx claim. Gunns were ordered to pay Ms Morris’ legal costs in relation to this.

Louise Morris (defendant#8) was in court today.
“I am fully prepared to go to trial in this case. If the powers that be within Gunns Ltd want to continue wasting shareholders money and damaging the company’s reputation through the pursuit of environmentalists such as me then bring it on. It is unfortunate that in the process they are also wasting Victorian taxpayer’s money by bringing this case in the Victorian Supreme Court,” said Ms Morris.

Adam Burling (Defendant#6) upon hearing of the outcome said:
“Gunns have had the opportunity to finish this shambles of a case and yet they have decided to continue with their bloody minded persecution of community members.”

“This morning Gunns have shown that they are willing to do whatever it takes, including continuing to spend millions of dollars, to hound anyone who dares oppose their destructive logging activities,” said Adam Burling.