Cabinet Minister Nick Smith is facing a defamation case later this year.Six weeks has been set down in the High Court in Auckland in June for the hearing of a legal action by timber preservatives producer Osmose New Zealand against the Nelson MP and timbe
Cabinet Minister Nick Smith is facing a defamation case later this year.
Six weeks has been set down in the High Court in Auckland in June for the hearing of a legal action by timber preservatives producer Osmose New Zealand against the Nelson MP and timber preservation scientist Robin Wakeling.
The company claims it was defamed in statements the pair made in 2005 about one of its timber treatments and is seeking nearly $15m damages, The Nelson Mail reported.
Dr Smith, who is now Minister for ACC, Environment, and Climate Changes Issues, was then National's spokesman on building and construction issues.
Dr Wakeling published an article critical of the Building Industry Authority (BIA), now the Department of Building and Housing, for approving the use of the treatment in timber framing of houses in 2004.
Dr Smith issued a press release later the same day critical of the then-Government and BIA, along with a copy of Dr Wakeling's article. He was interviewed on the issue on radio and television.
Osmose's statement of claim pleaded 11 causes of action. Five were directed at Dr Wakeling -- two in defamation, two for injurious falsehood and one for breach of the Fair Trading Act.
The other six were against Dr Smith for defamation and injurious falsehood but did not include an alleged breach of the FTA.
Dr Smith said yesterday the legal action had become more complex with six other parties added to the action.
Attempts to resolve the case before it got to trial were continuing and he was "still hopeful they are successful".
"Otherwise I will be vigorously defending it."
Osmose's counsel Ian Gault said legal proceedings were ongoing but declined to comment further.
