Criminal defence barrister Tania Evers commences defamation proceedings against The Daily Telegraph ... So do George Piggins, Sarkis Nassif, Michael Blomfield, Michael Towke and Russh magazine publisher Dr Ian Davies … Self-proclaimed prophet Jeremy Griffith lodges an appeal … Footy Show executive producer sues 2GB and Ray Hadley for saying he encourages reporters to ridicule disabled people ... more
Year: 2008
“Post”modernism: Reputation as celebrity
Former NSW defamation judge David Levine reviews Sydney academic Dr David Rolph’s thoroughly modern take on the subject Reputation, Celebrity and Defamation Law and finds it “original, stimulating and thought provoking” ... more
Peer Lindholdt v Peter Hyer
Peer Lindholdt, publisher of Cabbie magazine, loses appeal over his defamatory criticisms of taxi industry supremo Peter Hyer. Calling Hyer a “little Hitler” was not germane to an occasion of qualified privilege, but was published maliciously, says Justice Ruth McColl of the NSW Court of Appeal ... more
Coull v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
Northern Territory Court of Appeal increases damages awarded – from $12,000 to $80,000 – to a man the Centralian Advocate and the Northern Territory News unfairly and inaccurately named as the perpetrator of a vicious assault … more
Corruption and Crime Commission; Ex Parte West Australian Newspapers Ltd
The Western Australian Court of Appeal finds that media access to police interviews is a matter for the Corruption & Crime Commission’s discretion. WA Newspapers wins appeal over an interview with Simon Rochford, now deceased, played during the Mallard Inquiry ... more
Settlement fever in Lewincamp
Settlements roll in for Lewincamp … Jeremy Griffith considering an appeal … Definite appeal in dishonoured cheque defamation judgment for Westpac … The Australian seeks special leave over doubling of damages to “supporter of terrorism” ... Plenty of fresh action for The Sydney Morning Herald’s new legal team … Judge Gibson’s $50,000 “backyarder” ... Ian Thorpe presses on despite publisher’s no-show ... more
Mallick v McGeown & Anor
NSW Court of Appeal dismisses appeal against an allegedly unreasonable jury verdict that found it was not defamatory to call someone “demented”. Justice Ruth McColl describes the appeal as a “forlorn attempt to salvage a lost cause” ... more
Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Ray Chesterton
The High Court under new Chief Justice Robert French grants special leave in 2UE v Chesterton, opening reconsideration of its own verdict on so-called “business defamation” in Gacic v John Fairfax Publications. Special leave is refused Queensland Newspapers in its hard-fought battle with property marketeer Ron Cross ... more
Alan Howe & Ors v Peter Harvey, DPP v Christopher Tinkler & Ors
Victoria’s Court of Appeal dismisses appeals by Channel Seven and the Sunday Herald Sun over their convictions for identifying a 14-year boy who had “divorced” his parents. Sunrise co-presenter David Koch stays off the hook ... more
Paul Leask and Ors v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
Defamation proceedings brought against The Daily Telegraph over its coverage of disgraced crown prosecutor Patrick Power’s character referees are far from over. Eight more of “Pervert Power’s 59 mates” are taking action ... more
Fairfax legal update
Who gets what in the legal services shake-up … Johnson Winter & Slattery set to say au revoir to some of its favourite clients ... more
Bracks v Smyth-Kirk
An Australian Jockey Club member’s attempt to sue twice over the same publication is an abuse of process, says NSW Supreme Court Justice Lucy McCallum. Noel Bracks’ action against AJC Chairman Ross Smyth-Kirk is dismissed ... more