Aussie organic farmer who lost GMO ‘contamination’ case faces $800,000 in court costs

Organic farmer Steve Marsh and his wife Sue could be forced to pay almost $804,000 in court costs after suffering defeat in a landmark property rights case earlier this year.

In late May, the Western Australian Supreme Court comprehensively rejected the Marshes’ attempts to sue their genetically modified (GM) canola farming neighbour Michael Baxter. The Marshes had claimed $85,000 in alleged damages after GM canola swathes were detected on their organic farm in late 2010, sparking organic decertification on about 70 per cent of the 478-hectare Kojonup farm.

But Justice Ken Martin’s 150-page judgement rejected assertions GM canola was unsafe in dismissing both the Marshes’ causes of action in common law negligence and private nuisance.

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Mr Marsh’s campaign which questioned the safety of GM crops was supported by the Safe Food Foundation (SFF) and raised $750,000 through public donations.

Read full, original article: Marsh to face $800,000 costs for GM test case