Category: Damages

Damages    March 1, 2026

Ivory v Gawley

Federal Court of Australia ... Drag racing enthusiast awarded $15,000 in damages over Facebook posts ... Allegations included claim of serious criminal behaviour ... No appearance by respondent ... Damages mitigated by earlier award of $75,000 for publications with similar effect ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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Damages    February 27, 2026

Archbishop Makarios Griniezakis v Morelas (Trial Judgment)

Federal Court of Australia ... Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Australia awarded $300,000 in aggravated damages ... Sued publisher of online Greek language news outlet ... Allegations of fraud, bribery and cover up ... Defences of justification, honest opinion and statutory qualified privilege rejected ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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Damages    January 17, 2026

Hall v Aldridge (No 2)

Supreme Court of Western Australia ... Mayor of suburban Perth council awarded $250,000 in aggravated damages ... Sued over Facebook posts and comments to local paper ... Campaign run by ratepayer who objected to mayoral endorsement of candidates for council election ... Defences largely rejected ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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Damages    November 13, 2025

Huynh v Chu

District Court of Queensland ... Restaurant manager awarded $40,000 in damages over Facebook posts ... Sued former business partner following dispute over payment for equipment ... No appearance from defendant ... Serious harm established .. No component for vindication in damages ... Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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Damages    October 14, 2025

Heath Kelley v Abbie Chatfield

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

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Damages    October 14, 2025

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

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Damages    October 9, 2025

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

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Damages    September 18, 2025

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

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Damages    August 27, 2025

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

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Damages    June 15, 2025

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

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Damages    May 8, 2025

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

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Damages    April 4, 2025

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

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