Trial date set for local FCA court case

A TRIAL date of September 26, 2016, has been set by the Federal Court for the lawsuit filed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia against former managing directors Clyde Campbell and Veronica Johns.

The trial is expected to last four weeks before Justice Jonathan Beach and relates to claims filed by their former employer in May this year that Mr Campbell misused more than $30 million in company funds.

Mr Campbell has subsequently lodged a detailed defence in which he said his FCA bosses had told him in 2010 to increase the company’s sales to 20,000 vehicles a year and that they did not care how he did it.

Ms Johns was officially added to the lawsuit in September and is also accused of misusing FCA Australia funds while at the helm between April 2013 and November 2014.

Another directions hearing is set for March 10, 2016. Ms Johns will be represented by Gilbert + Tobin, while Mr Campbell is being represented by SBA Law.