A class action on behalf of persons suffering injury, damage or loss as a result of the St Patrick's Day fires that prompted evacuations across south-west Victoria.
The claim is against electricity supplier Powercor and alleges that the fires were caused by an electrical discharge between powerlines, with the resulting sparks or heat igniting dry vegetation at Terang, Victoria.
On 20 December 2019, the Supreme Court approved the settlement of the class action. The Court approval means that the settlement becomes binding on all persons who fall under the definition of group member in the proceeding.
On 6 April 2020, the Supreme Court approved distribution of the settlement sum to group members pursuant to the settlement distribution scheme.