Actor Craig McLachlan drops defamation action against Fairfax, ABC and Christie Whelan Browne ... Sued over reports of sexual misconduct during 2014 run of The Rocky Horror Show ... Reports defendants ran up legal costs of $2.2 million ... Partial indemnity costs awarded ... Statements from McLachlan and Browne ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Year: 2022
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Former SAS sergeant Person 22 gives evidence ... Tells of Ben Roberts-Smith striking Person 10 ... Followed mission to Chora Valley ... Person 10 was asked who he was shooting at with machine gun ... Person 22 says Person 10 was non-responsive ... Says Person 10 was in jovial mood afterwards ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Person 36 gives evidence ... Says Person 1 lacked ability and capability as SAS operator ... Denies seeing Ben Roberts-Smith bully Person 1 ... Person 38 continues in cross-examination ... Denies slurring Person 40 over allegation of cowardice ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Former SAS corporal, Person 38, gives evidence ... Denies men were found in tunnel in Whiskey 108 ... Tells Court Person 41 was with him clearing orchard around time executions said to have occurred ... Denies falsifying account to assist Roberts-Smith ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Re Ramsay Health Care Australia Pty Ltd
Health care provider Ramsay Health Care avoids contempt finding over use of emails subpoenaed in defamation action ... Implied undertaking ... Actual knowledge ... Former Senior Corporate Counsel "drowning in work" ... Apology accepted ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Bazzi v Dutton
Refugee activist Shane Bazzi wins appeal over finding Peter Dutton defamed by "rape apologist" tweet ... Full Court finds that tweet did not convey imputation Dutton excused rape ... Tweet to be read as a whole ... Primary judge overly reliant on dictionary definition of "apologist" ... Parties to be heard on costs ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Former SAS sergeant Person 32 continues in cross-examination ... Denies being present when Roberts-Smith directed Afghan officer to kill detainee ... Denies being told by Roberts-Smith that he kicked detainee off cliff at Darwan ... Denies meetings with Regimental Sergeant-Majors ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Craig McLachlan v Fairfax Media, Christie Whelan Browne & ABC
Actor Craig McLachlan on "suicide watch" after media reports of sexual assault and harassment ... Actor's wife cross-examined ... Text message contradict evidence about attendance at the theatre ... Goosing ... Pranks ... Reporter Miklos Bolza, AAP ... more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Person 32, a former SAS sergeant, gives evidence ... Denies being called a rookie or being blooded ... Maintains Afghan officer, Person 12, was officer who shot at dog and was removed in July ... Maintains killing of two insurgents at Darwan was lawful, as they were armed and a "threat to us" ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Roberts-Smith v Roberts
Ben Roberts-Smith loses appeal bid over attempt to cross examine former wife, Emma Roberts over access to emails ... Justice Wigney rules no substantial injustice established in Justice Bromwich's primary decision ... Decision not attended by sufficient doubt ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Aurisch v Wilson
Defamed by four Facebook posts making allegations of “puppy farming” and wormy dogs … Defences of truth, qualified privilege, honest opinion and triviality rejected … more
Craig McLachlan v Fairfax Media, Christie Whelan Browne & ABC
NSW Supreme Court ... Day five of Craig McLachlan's defamation case against Fairfax, the ABC and actress Whelan Browne ... Cross-examination of the plaintiff ... Pressed about anger, assaults, threats, tongue kiss and abuse ... Behind the scenes at The Rocky Horror Show ... #MeToo case ... Reporter Miklos Bolza, AAP ... more