Barrister Lloyd Rainey awarded a total of $2.6 million in damages, interest and economic loss … Police press conference where the plaintiff was named as “the prime and only” suspect in a murder investigation … Qualified privilege … Truth … Carmel Galati reports … more
Year: 2018
Lloyd Rayney v The State of Western Australia
Barrister Lloyd Rainey awarded a total of $2.6 million in damages, interest and economic loss ... Police press conference where the plaintiff was named as "the prime and only" suspect in a murder investigation ... Qualified privilege ... Truth ... Carmel Galati reports ... more
On the royal telephone
Phone hacking settlements in London on the steps of the court … Dirty Harry and fake news … Junk journalism … Dodgy lawyers … Why settle now? … Royal wedding fever … From our London team … more
Noble v Phillips
Byron Bay Bluesfest and the plight of koalas ... Plaintiff unsuccessful in an attempt to have five publications dealt with as a single defamatory publication ... Nick Bonyhady reports ... more
Atkinson Prakash Charan v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
Success for defendant newspaper in long-running defamation trial ... Plaintiff's pleadings widened the issues available for the truth defence ... Justice Jack Forrest says evidence from the plaintiff was "incredible ... risible" ... Lessons for defamation plaintiffs and defendants alike ... Report from Justin Quill and Corey Jankie at Macpherson Kelly ... more
Fairfax Media Publications; NSW Crime Commission v Yucel
Accessing crime commission documents ... The need for "exceptional circumstances" ... Future criminal cases versus open justice ... From our reporter Nick Bonyhady ... more
When the government’s secret documents fall into the hands of the media
Filing cabinets filled with newsworthy fodder ... Memories of Corrections Victoria v Nine Network ... Injunctions ... Privacy ... National security ... Recalling Mason J in Commonwealth v Fairfax ... Nick Bonyhady reports ... more
Mouhammad Tabbaa and Pamela Tabbaa v Nine Network Australia
Justice Fagan's summing up and verdict ... Criticism of the way the trial was run ... Juries burdened by too many imputations ... Changing the Defamation Act is "absolutely urgent" ... Vindication for Channel Nine's chief witness ... more
New official secrets legislation casts an uncertain net
Media organisations combine to oppose foreign interference Bill ... Tighter secrecy measures ... Criminalising of news gathering ... Inadequate defence for journalists in possession of classified information ... Nick Bonyhady files this report ... more
Adhesion contract from hell
Fire & Fury … Steve Bannon and the Trump non-disclosure contract … Does a confidentiality agreement override the First Amendment? … Hannah Ryan weighs the odds … more
Publishers wilt in the face of Chinese government sensitivities
Two more publishers reject Clive Hamilton’s book on Chinese influence in Australian affairs … Unspecified threats of defamation … Foreign government lawfare against free speech in Australia … Nick Bonyhady reports … more