Mobil-Esso represented in Australian class action

An explosion at the Longford gas plant, Eastern Victoria, in September 1998 caused a two-week interruption to Victoria's gas supply. At the time, Esso sold all its gas to the State Government on two conditions. Esso was not liable for any economic loss caused by an interruption to supply and the Victorian Government on-sold the gas to users on the condition that the Victorian Government would not be liable for any economic loss caused by an interruption to supply. However, the claim lodged by the users against Esso argues that the monopoly power of Esso and imperfections in information mean that the chain of contracts is defective and so should not preclude a claim against Esso. Dr Philip Williams, from Frontier (Melbourne), has been retained by the solicitors for Mobil-Esso to give expert evidence in this high-profile class action that will be heard late in 2002 in the Supreme Court of Victoria.