Nauta Dutilh has won a victory for consumer products giant Sara Lee against the European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC) in a Dutch court.
Litigation partner John Allen, supported by just one associate, acted for Sara Lee to prove that its air fresheners did not pose any health risk.
Sara Lee launched proceedings after claims made by the BEUC and its Dutch counterpart, the Consumenten-bond, that air fresheners could be toxic. Allen brought together several expert witnesses to refute the claims.
Last week the president of the District Court in The Hague ruled that there had been no substantiation to the BEUC’s allegations.
Allen said: “I think Sara Lee was right to pursue this. If you’re serious about your product and something of this magnitude comes up, you shouldn’t stand by and accept allegations that aren’t true.”
The defendants were advised by Leiden firm Teekens Karstens.
