David Salter on the Media We Deserve ... Geoffrey Robertson QC at the free speech dinner on how England has outpaced Australia on defamation law reform … Dilemma for imputation retrials: should the new jury obey the Court of Appeal or think for itself? ... more
Year: 2007
Paul Gibson v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
Paul Gibson, the Labor member for Blacktown, appeals a section 7A jury verdict which tossed out every imputation he pleaded over a series of Daily Telegraph articles, including one that he is “a rorter” ... more
NSW Bar’s contempt case stymied
Bar’s contempt case against The Daily Telegraph delayed till later this year … Crosby/Texter wants source for leak of confidential Liberal Party poll … Media Law Resource Centre London conference … Gacic back for imputation retrial … Frank Lewincamp’s defamation case against The Bulletin kicks off in Canberra … Appeals from 2UE in “ankles” case and Jerry Lee Bennette in Ian Cohen case ... more
Zia Qureshi v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd
Despite forceful directions from Justice Michael Adams, a NSW Supreme Court jury remained deadlocked on 14 out of 19 imputations pleaded against The Australian Financial Review by former high-flying business consultant Zia Qureshi. He gets just one imputation up ... more
Dennis Patrick O’Rourke v Stephen Hagan and Nationwide News Pty Ltd
Documentary filmmaker Dennis O’Rourke succeeds in his defamation action against an ATSIC regional councillor and Nationwide News. ACT Supreme Court Justice Ken Crispin awards damages of $204,300 … more
Channel Seven Adelaide v Manock
The High Court hears another “ferocious interlocutory battle”, this time over fair comment. Was the South Australian Court of Appeal misguided in connecting the substratum of fact to the imputation pleaded? ... more
Winnel v Snow
Canberra proprty developer’s defamation case is dismissed after Justice Margaret Stone finds a letter to the ACT Minister for Planning was merely part of a “robust political exchange” and did not convey any of the imputations pleaded ... more
Keysar Trad v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd
Controversial Muslim community spokesman Keysar Trad succeeds against 2GB. Jury finds that a broadcast by talkback host Jason Morrison alleged Trad was a dangerous individual who incited racism and violence in the wake of the Cronulla riots ... more
Maurice Kriss v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd
Disbarred and re-admitted barrister Maurice Kriss succeeds a second time in his defamation action against The Sydney Morning Herald over a malicious story in the now defunct “Sauce” column. Justice Peter McClellan awards him $90,000 – this time with no suggestion of apprehended bias from the bench … more
John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Gacic
Graham Hryce argues that the High Court decision in Gacic is a disaster for media defendants. Not only has the power of juries been seriously diminished, the creation of a new category of “business defamation” opens opportunities for business owners to sue on a basis not previously allowed by the common law ... more
Peter Nagle v Austereo Pty Ltd
Former NSW Labor MP gets three out of four imputations up against the Morning Crew. Jury finds it not defamatory to say an MP “was so tyrannical he turned his secretary into a personal slave” ... more
Ray Chesterton takes on John Laws
Ray Chesterton takes on John Laws over “Ankles” slur … Telegraph back in court with NSW Bar Association contempt claim … New life breathed into Echo QP appeal … Retired coppers suing ex-MP over “Shorty” Jamieson book … The confused law of comment ... more