A few of you might remember this case from a few years ago. Seems the ARA nut case lost and now he has to pay the piper. Looks good on him although he should be paying a lot more for his arbitrary enforcement of crippling farmers right to make a living.
AUS saboteur must pay damages (ABC Rural)
Sent: June 24, 2009 2:47:02 PM
ABC Rural (AUS)
Animal activist forced to pay damages
Wednesday, 24/06/2009
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200906/s2606873.htm
The Victorian Farmers Federation says a Federal Court ruling, which
ordered an animal rights activist pay damages for sabotaging the live
export of sheep, will help protect the industry.
Ralph Hannheuser put ham in a sheep feedlot in Portland in 2003, which
delayed their export to the Middle East.
He's now been been ordered to pay $70,000 damages, in a lengthy civil
case brought by the live export industry.
Andrew Broad, from the VFF, says if animal rights activists want to
protest, they must do it within the law.
"If you're going to go out there and break the law and stop farmers
from conducting their businesses, we will pursue the individual," he
says.
The live export industry is also claiming victory.
The exporter Samax and the company Rural Export and Trading sued Mr
Hahnheuser in the Federal Court, alleging his actions cost them
hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The court originally agreed with Mr Hahnheuser, but on appeal in 2008
the full bench of the Federal Court overturned the original decision.
The live export industry and farmer representative bodies say that
created a significant precedent.
But the lawyer for Mr Hahnheuser says the five-year case hasn't been
entirely successful for the live export industry.
While export company Samax was awarded damages of more than $70,000,
the other company, Rural Export and Trading, has been awarded nothing.
In his reasons, Federal Court judge Peter Gray said Rural Export and
Trading was not entitled to damages because it didn't prove it
suffered loss and damages.
Samax was awarded damages mainly for the costs of getting the sheep
slaughtered locally, and additional costs for the sale of the meat.
Mr Hahnheuser's lawyer was also quick to point out that ,together, the
two companies sought more than half a million dollars in damages.
He says Mr Hahnheuser can't pay the damages bill. If Samax tries to
get the money, it'll bankrupt Mr Hahnheuser.
The ABC contacted Samax, Rural Export and Trading, Ralph Hanhauser,
the live export industry body LiveCorp, and Animal Liberation SA, but
no one returned calls or emails.