Australia: Big timber (Gunns Ltd.) fails in 4-year attempt to sue enviro protesters for millions

In December 2004, Gunns sued the Wilderness Society and others
alleging it had suffered loss after protesters trespassed on Gunns
land and damaged forest machinery. The claim by Gunns Ltd. against the
Wilderness Society has collapsed after four years, with the timber
giant ordered to pay the society $350,000 in legal costs.

The Wilderness Society is free to continue protesting to protect
Tasmania’s forests as part of the settlement, which ends the marathon
$3.5 million lawsuit against the group. Seven defendants out of an
original 20 remain in the case before the Victorian Supreme Court.
Claims against others, including Greens leader Bob Brown and Tasmanian
leader Peg Putt, were dropped or settled in previous years.

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Wilderness Society executive director Alec Marr said the group felt
vindicated as it had known all along the claims against it were
“rubbish”. “We believe the whole thing has been a fiasco, a monumental
waste of time and the court’s money,” he said.

“We believe it’s important for people to stand up for the protection of the  environment. If Gunns wants peace in the forests, it nees to stop
destroying some of the most magnificent forests on Earth, and stop
trying to ram a filthy, polluting pulp mill down the throats of the
Tasmanian community.”

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http://www.theage.com.au/national/gunns-protest-claim-collapses-20090316-8zjw.html