The legal claim for damages against environmentalists lodged by Australian timber company Gunns has been described as “muddled and deficient in details” by the lawyer for the defendants.
Gunns is suing 20 Australian environmental activists and green groups, alleging that their protest actions, including a tree “sit-in” and a campaign to persuade Japanesse consumers not to by its woodchips, had damaged its business. It is seeking a total of A$6.3m.
But QC Mark Dreyfuss for the defendants said parts of Gunns’ claim should be immediately stricken out by the judge. “Their statement [of claim] is very long and confused,” he added.
Mark Irving for Gunns said its lawyers had received extensive requests for further particulars from the greens’ legal team and had responded to them. One contained 104 questions.
