AUS – ORGANIC FARMER TO APPEAL WA COURT DECISION


18 June 2014. Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-18/org-farmer-to-appeal-supreme-court-decision-on-gm-contamination/5533742

A Western Australian organic farmer will appeal a Supreme Court decision in a landmark GM contamination case.

Kojonup farmer Steve Marsh launched legal action against his neighbour Michael Baxter after claiming GM canola blew from his crop onto Mr Marsh’s land in 2010.

Mr Marsh claims the contamination caused him to lose his organic certification on more than half his property for almost three years.

He sought $85,000 in damages, but the claim was thrown out last month after a three-week trial, with Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Martin ruling in Mr Baxter’s favour.

Slater and Gordon lawyer Mark Walters, who is representing Mr Marsh in the action, said a notice of appeal had been filed in the Court of Appeal.

Mr Marsh said after a lot of consideration, he and his wife Sue had decided to exercise their right to appeal.

Mr Baxter told the ABC he was aware of the appeal.

He said he was surprised because he thought the judge was very clear in his decision…