8 December 2003

GE Salmon legal action dropped

Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has announced the PR firm Communications Trumps (now known as Four Winds Communications) has today dropped the legal action it brought against her in 1999.

The action related to a press statement Ms Fitzsimons released about advice Communications Trumps gave to the firm King Salmon on its experimental programme involving genetically engineered salmon in Marlborough.

"I haven't apologised for my statements, withdrawn my comments nor agreed to any settlement," Ms Fitzsimons said today. "I prepared to defend the case, which was to go to court tomorrow, on the basis of truth, honest opinion and qualified privilege.

"I am at present discussing procedures for seeking costs related to the action. Unlike Ministers of the Crown, or leaders of large political parties I have borne the costs of my own defence personally."

Ms Fitzsimons said she remained concerned about the King Salmon experiment.

"As far as I know the experiment has been postponed, not cancelled. The lifting of the moratorium on GE releases means it may be developed further. I am also concerned that it may take a decade or so before we know whether or not genetically engineered material from the experiment escaped into the environment."

ENDS

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