Restaurateurs win appeal over unpalatable Matthew Evans review in The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW Court of Appeal fails the defences of comment and truth on the basis that Evans didn’t actually dine at one of the restaurants named ... more
Year: 2011
Vivienne Dye v Commonwealth Bank of Australia & Barbara Chapman
Vivienne Dye’s expensive and protracted proceedings against the Commonwealth Bank and others are coming to a close. But where is the plaintiff? ... more
Joseph Nowak v Paul Putland
A man who was subjected to “hurtful, cruel, persistent and prolonged” accusations that he was a paedophile and a “wog” gets damages of $150,000 in the QLD District Court … more
Peter Szanto v Antony Melville
Solicitor’s letter (about another solicitor) sent to solicitors is protected by both forms of qualified privilege. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kaye finds no malice in allegations of “deliberate breaches” and “illegality” ... more
Question Time – Patrick George
The second edition of Patrick George’s Defamation Law in Australia is about to hit the shelves. In this interview, the author discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the 2005 Act – in law, and in practice ... more
The contextual truth problem
The defence of contextual truth as it was, is no more – thanks to some imprecise drafting and the NSW Court of Appeal. Media law lecturer Dr David Rolph looks at the demise of “pleading back” and the need for further, more considered reform ... more
Leveson Inquiry – “Who guards the guardians?”
The Leveson Inquiry into News International and the phone hacking scandal is underway in London. This report, from media law blog Inforrm, summarises two key opening statements which have set the tone … more
Print media inquiry submissions – Part 1
Former Federal Court Judge Ray Finkelstein’s inquiry into Australia’s print media is hearing an embarrassment of submissions. From “private individual” Pat Burrows to the Australian Press Council, Tom Westbrook takes a look at who’s saying what … more
Print media inquiry submissions – Part 2
Around the nation
Member of Griffith winemaking family loses “Mafia” imputations … Sacked medical research director given time to sue over eighteenth email … Summary judgment for WA childcare workers ... more
Settling old scores
Court watchers deprived as a rash of settlements bring 2011 to a dull end … Defamation suits follow injunction for Ray Hadley and 2GB … Correction notice to feature alongside Andrew Bolt’s column … ABC news … Fresh media action against Nine and Seven ... more
Hugh Tomlinson QC
Hugh Tomlinson QC is a founding editor of the highly regarded media law blog Inforrm... He also appears in many high-profile UK cases … In this interview, he tells the Gazette exactly what he thinks about privacy, superinjunctions, phone-hacking and the press ... more