AUSTRALIA – A recent decision to drop a damages case against self-proclaimed Spud King Tony Galati has several potato growers considering suing the state government.

According to ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) News, growers had been seeking millions of dollars in damages from Galati for failure to obey the strict limits imposed by the Potato Marketing Corporation (PMC), a now defunct organization overseeing potato growing regulations.

The PMC originally filed a civil case seeking $5.8 million in damages from Galati, but late last year, the industry was deregulated, the PMC’s authority dissolved, and the government inherited the case.

Premier Mark McGowan, a longtime supporter of Galati who campaigned for the abolition of the PMC, told Parliament last month that the government decided to drop the civil proceedings.

"Suing someone for growing potatoes is wrong, stupid, absurd, ridiculous, out of touch, and quite frankly, preposterous," Mr. McGowan said. "And so we took the action we did."

Growers who took the lawsuit to court initially were frustrated with the decision and accused McGowan of siding with Galati against law-abiding farmers.

"For [the Premier] to come in and play judge, jury, and executioner and drop the damages claim against the grower is extremely disappointing," said Pemberton Grower Glen Ryan, a former PMC board member. "So we decided to get that legal advice, and there are several opportunities, I suppose, that we could look at—including what role the Government has played in removing this case and if there is in fact a claim by growers against the Government."

With aggrieved growers considering their options, will the Spud King be deposed and punished as a scofflaw? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this and other legal matters in the produce world.