Ferrari-driving developer drops defamation lawsuit against City of Casey
A high-flying developer has been stung after quietly dropping defamation proceedings against the City of Casey. It comes after they were embroiled in an explosive inquiry probing dodgy land deals and developer donations.
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A controversial developer at the centre of an anti-corruption probe has dropped defamation proceedings against the City of Casey.
John Woodman, the Ferrari-driving director of Watsons development group, was suing the council, in Melbourne’s southeast, alleging it and four of its officers had defamed him.
The case was brought to the Supreme Court of Victoria in August last year but was withdrawn on Monday when Mr Woodman elected to file a notice of discontinuance.
Casey Council said in a statement it welcomed the move and “we are all relieved we can all put this behind us”.
The case had “put considerable personal and professional strain on the officers involved”, the council’s corporate services director Sheena Frost said in the statement.
She said Mr Woodman would now be required to pay the council’s and its officers’ legal costs, in accordance with the court rules.
Mr Woodman declined to comment when contacted by the Herald Sun yesterday.
Casey Council and Mr Woodman have been embroiled in an explosive Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission inquiry into dodgy land deals and developer donations.
The council was sacked in February following the recommendation of a Municipal Monitor investigation into the council.
Administrators were appointed in May and will remain in the role until the 2024 general council election.
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