Tracy Leigh in legal hot water over Lemon listing of Bruder Caravans
In Issue 37, RV Daily featured an assessment of the current state of play within that Lemon Caravans page (click here to read). While the magazine was threatened with legal action, nothing to date has been forthcoming, however, that’s not the case for Facebook group owner Tracy Leigh, with a summons being issued from an unlikely source – high-end caravan manufacturer Bruder is launching legal action over comments made by Tracy and her page. But first, a few developments.
Following the furore after our story, things went very quiet on the group until June when Tracy Leigh turned up at the Brisbane Caravan Show with a bodyguard in proximity. The unannounced visit (or mission as she later called it), which cost her Membership Contribution Fund a total of $500, was so Ms Leigh could get an “on the ground perspective of the current state of the industry and meet with dealers, manufacturers and industry representatives”. Tracy claimed to have had some robust discussions with the people who did talk to her.
Her mission was supposedly so successful, she offered an olive branch to the industry, inviting representatives to discuss the difficulties on both sides of the fence when it comes to caravan purchasing and warranties. It actually looked as though the adversarial process she had engaged in to date was coming to an end.
NEWS Lemon Legal Action
WORDS MARTY LEDWICH
Unfortunately, the détente didn't last long. Phil Sanchez, convener of the Facebook group ‘Shonky and Non Shonky Caravan Builders-Dealers around Australia’, who was the subject of the defamation case brought against him by Tracy Leigh, launched a countersuit of his own, and it seems he's quite serious in seeing it through.
Then, discussions with Eagle Camper Trailers broke down, resulting in Eagle issuing a concern notice to Ms Leigh. This seems to have reignited her fury with the industry, with her issuing a dare to others to “bring it on” as she put it on her group.
Subsequently, the call for more donations has gone out to her faithful followers after Ms Leigh received notice from Bruder Expedition Pty Ltd, makers of what is arguably the most advanced caravan on the market. Bruder will commence legal proceedings in Brisbane's Supreme Court claiming Injurious Falsehood if she didn't comply with its demands to make amends by July 2.
So, ...without amends being made ...
The application was later filed with the Court on July 4 and a subsequent hearing held on July 10. That resulted in an interim relief order that all posts and comments relating to Bruder be removed from Ms Leigh's group. If successful at trial, Bruder could be awarded up to $750,000.
What is most concerning about this action by Bruder is that it extends beyond Ms Leigh to include some of her followers who supposedly made more derogatory comments about Bruder on her group.
We've since heard reports that another three companies are planning on launching similar legal proceedings against Ms Leigh in the coming weeks. We watch this space as fascinated spectators.
NEWS Lemon Legal Action
Tracy Leigh in legal hot water over Lemon listing of Bruder Caravans
In Issue 37, RV Daily featured an assessment of the current state of play within that Lemon Caravans page (click here to read). While the magazine was threatened with legal action, nothing to date has been forthcoming, however, that’s not the case for Facebook group owner Tracy Leigh, with a summons being issued from an unlikely source – high-end caravan manufacturer Bruder is launching legal action over comments made by Tracy and her page. But first, a few developments.
Following the furore after our story, things went very quiet on the group until June when Tracy Leigh turned up at the Brisbane Caravan Show with a bodyguard in proximity. The unannounced visit (or mission as she later called it), which cost her Membership Contribution Fund a total of $500, was so Ms Leigh could get an “on the ground perspective of the current state of the industry and meet with dealers, manufacturers and industry representatives”. Tracy claimed to have had some robust discussions with the people who did talk to her.
Her mission was supposedly so successful, she offered an olive branch to the industry, inviting representatives to discuss the difficulties on both sides of the fence when it comes to caravan purchasing and warranties. It actually looked as though the adversarial process she had engaged in to date was coming to an end.
WORDS MARTY LEDWICH
Unfortunately, the détente didn't last long. Phil Sanchez, convener of the Facebook group ‘Shonky and Non Shonky Caravan Builders-Dealers around Australia’, who was the subject of the defamation case brought against him by Tracy Leigh, launched a countersuit of his own, and it seems he's quite serious in seeing it through.
Then, discussions with Eagle Camper Trailers broke down, resulting in Eagle issuing a concern notice to Ms Leigh. This seems to have reignited her fury with the industry, with her issuing a dare to others to “bring it on” as she put it on her group.
Subsequently, the call for more donations has gone out to her faithful followers after Ms Leigh received notice from Bruder Expedition Pty Ltd, makers of what is arguably the most advanced caravan on the market. Bruder will commence legal proceedings in Brisbane's Supreme Court claiming Injurious Falsehood if she didn't comply with its demands to make amends by July 2.
So, ...without amends being made ...
The application was later filed with the Court on July 4 and a subsequent hearing held on July 10. That resulted in an interim relief order that all posts and comments relating to Bruder be removed from Ms Leigh's group. If successful at trial, Bruder could be awarded up to $750,000.
What is most concerning about this action by Bruder is that it extends beyond Ms Leigh to include some of her followers who supposedly made more derogatory comments about Bruder on her group.
We've since heard reports that another three companies are planning on launching similar legal proceedings against Ms Leigh in the coming weeks. We watch this space as fascinated spectators.