Maurice Blackburn

Maurice Blackburn lawyers have placed notices in national, suburban and regional papers to inform members of the next step in the class action.

The Kilmore East Kinglake Bushfire class action which is fixed for trial on 29 January 2013, has now reached the opt out stage, with notices being published in a number of newspapers and posted to individual class action members. 

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Rory Walsh said if people wish to stay in the class action they should not opt out and they should not return the opt out form. 

"Opt out is a mechanism which enables group members of a class action, to opt out of the proceeding. It is a standard step in all class actions and persons who now wish, for whatever reason, to opt out of the Kilmore East Kinglake Bushfire class action must do so by 31 January 2012," Mr Walsh said. 

"Maurice Blackburn is currently acting for approximately eleven hundred clients and we anticipate this figure will increase significantly as the matter nears trial. 

"The case is proceeding well and we remain confident of achieving a successful outcome on behalf of our clients.

"We urge all persons who have suffered loss in the Kilmore East Kinglake bushfire to contact Maurice Blackburn's offices to register their losses."

The action alleges that on 7 February 2009 the devastating bushfire was started by a powerline that failed in Kilmore East. It spread rapidly, killing approximately 119 people, injuring many others and causing huge property losses. 

The central allegation is that the power utility company, SPI Electricity Pty Ltd, was negligent in maintaining the powerline, thereby causing the worst bushfire in Australian history.

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