MEDIA RELEASE
CARTEL VICTIMS TO
SUE AMCOR FOR $200M IN A CLASS ACTION
Maurice Blackburn today announced it commenced a $200 million civil damages class action against corrugated box manufacturer, Amcor Limited, on behalf of thousands of victims of the cartel that Amcor maintained between 2000 and 2005. This is the biggest class action in Australian legal history.
Maurice Blackburn principal, Ben Slade today said:
"Maurice Blackburn is pleased to be supporting so many small, medium and large companies who have been given a raw deal. It is important for anyone who bought boxes from either Amcor or Visy over the years to consider whether they have paid too much for boxes and to take action."
Mr Slade said that the cartel's impact on victims is far reaching as many industries spend millions of dollars each year on corrugated boxes. The main industries involved in this action are in the food and beverage market, for example producers of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, milk, beer and wine.
Ian Liddle, the ex owner of North Queensland banana packing company Jarra Creek Central Packing Shed, said many people still in the fruit and vegetable packing business were afraid to speak out against the cardboard box cartel because they still had to do business with them.
"I am no longer in the fruit packing business, so I am able to speak out about how Amcor ripped me off," Mr Liddle said.
Jarra Creek Central Packing Shed is the lead applicant in the class action.
This announcement follows the commencement of the ACCC's prosecution against Visy on 21 December 2005 for their alleged involvement in the cartel. While the ACCC is prosecuting the cartel, it is not seeking any damages for businesses that were overcharged for their cardboard boxes.
Media enquiries: Meaghan Telford, National Media and Public Relations Manager on 03 9605 2801
