Fonterra pursues debt recovery against class action plaintiffs
Dairy giant Fonterra plans to push ahead with debt recovery action against farmers who are leading a class action over the 2016 clawback.
Fonterra is seeking to recover $115,000 in unpaid funds it loaned lead plaintiffs, Lynden and Geoffrey Iddles, after slashing milk prices in May 2016, while the class action is simultaneously before the courts.
The Iddles' lawyer, David Burstyner, said the pair were owed the money as a result of the step down and had not paid it back on principle, claiming the initial price reduction was "unlawful".
According to the statement of claim lodged in the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Iddles - who run a 600-head autumn calving herd - lost $205,000 in milk revenue between May and June 2016.