Gunns Limited, a Timber and woodchip product company in Australia (Gunns Website) is sueing 17 individual activists, including Federal Greens Senator Bob Brown, as well as three not-for-profit environmental groups, for over 7.8 million dollars. Gunns claims that the defendants have sullied their reputation and caused them to lose profits, the defendants claim that they are simply protecting the environment. The defendants have become collectively known as the Gunns 20 (Friends of the Gunns 20). It is widely believed that this move is intended to tie up these activists in court proceedings, during which time Gunns intend to build a Pulp Mill in northern Tasmania. The move is possibly also intended to scare off other activists.

The Defendants

• Bob Brown - federal Greens senator
• Simon Brown
• Adam Burling - HVEC
• Brian Dimmick
• Doctors for Native Forests Inc.
• Heidi Douglas - TWS
• Neal Funnell
• Helen Gee
• Lou Geraghty
• Russell Hanson - TWS
• the Huon Valley Environment Center Inc.
• Geoff Law - TWS
• Alec Marr - TWS
• Leanne Minshull - formerly of TWS
• Louise Morris
• Ben Morrow
• Frank Nicklason
• Peter Pullinger
• Margaret (Peg) Putt - Greens MHA
• The Wilderness Society Inc.