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It's been five years since the devastating equine influenza outbreak hit
eastern Australia, but unfortunately the effects of this crisis are still being
felt by many across the industry.
The outbreak saw a
cancellation of race events over a number of months in line with the restricted
movement of horses, leading to a significant flow-on effect for a large section
of the equine industry, with many still struggling to recover as a result.
Maurice Blackburn has
partnered with Attwood Marshall to commence a class action in the
Federal Court on behalf of individuals and businesses who
suffered financial loss due to the outbreak.
Already, hundreds of
people have registered interest, with the action expected to be launched before
the end of the year. The action will seek damages for economic loss, with compensation
to vary from person-to-person, taking into account individual circumstances.
The class action is
backed by a litigation funder and will be run on a no win,
no fee basis. Funding agreements are now available for anyone who is
eligible to join the class action, with all costs and risks to be
fully underwritten by the litigation funder if the case fails. This ensures
there are no out of pocket costs or risk to those who join the action.
Maurice Blackburn
Principal Damian Scattini, who is heading up the class action, said people who
had suffered loss from the 2007 outbreak deserved to be compensated, as it was
widely accepted that the Commonwealth failed to implement measures that would
have prevented the disease from infecting horses in Australia. An inquiry by former High Court judge Ian
Callinan AC found significant systemic failures of the quarantine system in
Australia.
"Our discussions with
industry experts confirm the findings of the Callinan Inquiry that the most
likely cause of the outbreak from Eastern Creek Quarantine Station was on the
person, clothing or equipment of a person who had contact with an infected
horse," Mr Scattini said.
"The Australian
Quarantine and Inspection Service failed to implement adequate quarantine and
biosecurity measures to prevent the escape of the virus, and people who were
affected, many very badly, deserve to be compensated for this."
Am I eligible for the
class action? Click here
You may be eligible
if you suffered loss due to equine influenza and were involved in any of the
following from 8 August 2007 to 30 June 2008:
*owned, part-owned,
leased, managed a horse or a horse syndicate that was capable of earning you
money, whether or not the horse contracted equine influenza in that period;
*provided agistment, stabling and/or breeding services for horses;
*provided transport facilities or transport means used for the purpose of
transporting horses;
*operated a business that engaged in trading and/or commercial activities solely
concerned with horses.
About Maurice
Blackburn
Maurice Blackburn has
a hard earned and unparalleled record in successful class actions. The firm
conducts most of the nation's biggest class actions, and is the only firm to
have achieved class action settlements over $100 million.
For further details go to mauriceblackburn.com.au/equineinfluenza or call us on 1800 810 812 or email equineinfluenza@mauriceblackburn.com.au
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