Business by Anthony Piovesan  Jim s Mowing founder Jim Penman will try a test claim against the Victorian government for compensation over lockdown in a legal move that could open the floodgates for hundreds of other business owners. It can be revealed that Mr Penman has provided legal backing for his franchisee Steve Thompson to file a compensation claim against the Department of Health and Human Services in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after he lost more than $24,000 during the lockdown last year. Victorian barrister Ben Petrie will represent Mr Thompson at the upcoming hearing on June 9. The 47-year-old franchisee from Doreen will argue he was unfairly put out of work during the lockdown and could have still operated his business without any risk of transmitting coronavirus as he was a sole trader and worked outside only .