Category: Damages

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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Damages    March 30, 2025

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

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Damages    March 9, 2025

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

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Damages    March 9, 2025

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

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Damages    February 23, 2025

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

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Damages    February 10, 2025

Setia v Radio Haanji

County Court of Victoria ... Former restauranteur awarded $95,000 in aggravated damages ... Punjabi radio station posted a Facebook report falsely stating he had been convicted of wage theft, gaoled and subject to a massive fine ... Followed charges for wage theft which were later withdrawn ... Question of serious harm ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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Damages    February 7, 2025

Thurston v Fox Sports Australia Pty Limited

Federal Court of Australia ... Seven Network ordered to pay $200,000 each to three rugby league fans over racial abuse reports ... Claims fans abused indigenous NRL player ... Fox Sports makes out honest opinion defence to claim ... Imputations not conveyed in Nine broadcast ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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Damages    February 3, 2025

Who makes it rain? Profiles of counsel and instructors in defamation damages awards 2020-2024

Updated ... Data journalism ... Profile of leading counsel, juniors and instructors in matters where there was an award of damages between 2020 and 2024 ... Average awards reported for leading counsel ... Appearances by juniors ... Profile of firms instructing counsel ... Average awards by firm ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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Damages    February 3, 2025

Review of defamation damages awards from 2020 to 2024

Updated ... Data journalism ... Review of awards of damages for defamation by Australian courts between 2020 and 2024 ... Decline in number of awards ... Data on quantum of damages ... Data on media defendants ... Profile of awards by court ... Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports ... more

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