Federal Court of Australia ... Podcaster and influencer agrees to pay one time friend $79,000 in damages as well as costs over Instagram story ... Story used private messages between pair after friend celebrated defeat of former Greens leader, Adam Bandt at 2025 election ... Claims friend was right wing troll, supported genocide and slaughter of children in Gaza conflict ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Category: Damages
Sarina v O’Shannassy (No 8)
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia ... Two Sydney businessmen awarded $37,000 in aggravated damages and interest ... Sued over email sent to colleagues by estranged business partner ... Damages for hurt to feelings and damage to reputation ... Account taken of limited publication and damage to reputation ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Dalas v White; White v Dalas
County Court of Victoria ... Advocate for guardianship and trustee clients awarded $100,000 in aggravated damages over Facebook posts ... Sued operator of rival Facebook page ... Imputations that she was arrested at anti-lockdown rally and lied about it in court ... She defends rival's claim with truth and reply to attack defences ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Reynolds v Sharaz (No 2)
Supreme Court of Western Australia ... Husband of former staffer Brittany Higgins ordered to pay $92,000 in aggravated damages and interest to Linda Reynolds over social media posts ... Ordered to pay Reynolds' costs on indemnity basis ... News of Higgins filing appeal over damages and costs payable by her ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Reynolds v Higgins
Supreme Court of Western Australia ... Former defence minister Linda Reynolds is awarded nearly $350,000 in aggravated damages and interest after former staffer Brittany Higgins was found to have defamed her in two social media posts ... Higgins succeeded with opinion, comment and Lange qualified privilege defences in respect of third post ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Harvey v Henderson
Supreme Court of NSW ... Wildlife carer awarded $65,000 in damages over fraud and misappropriation claims ... Sued over emails and social media posts ... Defendants failed to make out fraud or dishonesty ... Qualified privilege community of interest made out for some of the emails ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Mond v The Age Company Pty Limited
Federal Court of Australia ... Melbourne Jewish community leader is awarded $120,000 in damages ... Follows publication of defamatory statements in CBD column in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald ... Defences of justification, honest opinion and public interest journalism fail ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Mitchell v Jobst
District Court of Queensland ... American video gamer awarded $350,000 in aggravated damages against professional YouTuber ... Video made allegations of cheating and contributing to pressure on a gamer who took his own life ... Contextual imputations substantiated but did not swamp seriousness of pleaded imputations ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Newman v Whittington
Supreme Court of NSW ... Family dispute resolution specialist awarded over $300,000 in aggravated damages, interest and costs ... Sued child recovery specialist over blog and social media posts ... Followed criticism of defendant's role in shambolic child rescue mission in Lebanon ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Jabbie v Gbangaye
Supreme Court of Western Australia ... Liberian refugee found to have been defamed in podcast hosted by fellow refugee ... Podcast focused on arrest of plaintiff's estranged husband over murder of another refugee ... Plaintiff awarded $325,000 in aggravated damages and $70,400 for economic loss ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
Topez v Coulthard
District Court of South Australia ... Spiritual healer and educator awarded $12,000 in damages against three members of Adnyamathanha community in South Australia following successful appeal ... Dispute over Indigenous lineage ... Appeal against fourth member unsuccessful ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more
McDonald v Findlay
Federal Court of Australia ... TikTok influencer ordered to pay University of Sydney student $20,000 ... Followed incident at SRC meeting where male students tore up report of sexual misconduct at residential colleges ... Video claimed student found "rape and assault hilarious" ... Consent orders made ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more