Damages sought in Canberra bushfire class action
Damages sought in Canberra bushfire class action
11 December 2008
published by www.abc.net.au
Australia — A class action hearing which is claiming damages after the 2003 Canberra bushfires is set to continue for several months.
About 100 complainants are seeking compensation from the ACT and New South Wales Governments for personal injury and property loss.
Today the complainants’ lawyer criticised the ACT for its lack of cooperation in sourcing documents.
A lawyer representing the New South Wales Government told the ACT Supreme Court that they have almost completed the scanning of more than 20,000 documents for the hearing.
The case will also be effected by the outcome of the New South Wales Government’s special leave application in the High Court to stop legal action by bushfire victim Wayne West.
The New South Wales Government is challenging the ACT Court of Appeal’s decision which found Mr West had the right to sue the state.
The High Court will hear the application next year.
