Fertiliser giant Ravensdown will later this month defend itself against a claim for at least $1 million in damages over losses to a Hawke's Bay orchard.
Orchardist Paddy Donovan is seeking the damages against the fertiliser giant, alleged to have been caused by acid and fluoride emissions from its plant at Awatoto, south of Napier.
The hearing is set to start in the Napier High Court in Napier on November 24 and is expected to last more than a fortnight.
The dispute goes back to 2004, when the company paid compensation for the year ended June 2004, but has refused to pay for the following two seasons -- although compensation has been paid to neighbouring orchards for that period, Hawke's Bay Today reported.
