I Cook engages Robert Richter QC in ‘Slug Gate’ fight

Shuttered I Cook Foods has engaged Robert Richter QC — one of Australia’s top lawyers — to fight the Andrews government over the “Slug Gate” scandal.

I Cook Foods has engaged one of Australia’s top lawyers, Robert Richter QC, to take on the Andrews government over the “Slug Gate’’ scandal.

Mr Richter will fight the civil litigation against two tiers of government next year as I Cook Foods owner Ian Cook seeks damages over the shutting down of his business.

I Cook was blamed for the 2019 death of an elderly Knox Private Hospital patient who had contracted listeria.

“I have accepted a brief to lead the action against the State of Victoria, the auditor and Dandenong Council,’’ Mr Richter said.

The Herald Sun understands Mr Richter was retained by I Cook Foods because of the serious allegations of government misconduct in the case.

Mr Richter’s skills in witness examination and identifying the critical points in a case are considered right for the $50m-plus civil action against the state.

Mr Richter has worked on some of the biggest cases in Australian legal history. Picture: AAP

A Supreme Court trial has been set for February.

Mr Richter will have a mountain of documents available for his examination in the months ahead.

There is also a 16-folder brief-of-evidence prepared for the company by retired Victoria Police detectives Paul Brady and Rod Porter.

One senior police source with experience of coming up against Mr Richter said he remained a formidable force.

The officer said the Melbourne-based barrister’s involvement with I Cook indicated the company’s case was strong.

“That will be very interesting,” the source said.

“He’s revered, he’s feared. He’ll just go there.”

Mr Richter has worked on some of the biggest cases in Australian legal history.

Among clients he has successfully defended are the late businessman John Elliott, Melbourne identity Mick Gatto, Labor Party minister Theo Theophanous and Cliff Lockwood, a Victoria Police officer charged with the murder of Gary Abdallah in 1989.

Ian Cook has engaged Robert Richter to lead his $50m-plus civil action against the state. Picture: Alex Coppel

Victoria Police also continues to probe the 2019 government-ordered shutdown of I Cook Foods.

In August, detectives visited the Department of Health and Greater Dandenong City Council premises in its “ongoing investigation’’ into whether any corrupt practices were employed to destroy the Dandenong South business.

Two parliamentary inquiries have also been held into the messy affair.

I Cook Foods was shut down after a sandwich it supplied to Knox Private Hospital was blamed over the death of 86-year-old patient Jean Painter in 2019.

A post-mortem revealed Ms Painter had listeria in her system.

But a 2019 Knox Council report by environmental health officer Ray Christy revealed Ms Painter was on a “soft diet’’ after being admitted to Knox Private Hospital, which did not include pre-packaged sandwiches.

Despite the 2019 Christy report, I Cook Foods underwent a series of inspections over the cleanliness of its factory by Greater Dandenong health officers during which a slug was found on the factory floor.

I Cook Foods has alleged the slug was planted by a council officer.