Data Journalism … Fall in number of resolved matters reported by GLJ between 2020 and 2024 … Preferred forums for mounting defamation actions … Have the 2021 reforms winnowed out the backyard disputes? … What types of publications have been sued on? … Data on appeals … Courts Editor Stephen Murray crunches the numbers … more
Category: Litigation
McCullagh v Northern Midlands Council, Knowles and Jennings
Supreme Court of Tasmania … Mayor and General Manager ordered to reimburse council costs paid for mounting defamation action … Pair sued community activist turned councillor over social media posts and emails … Council resolution to meet costs of litigation declared void and of no effect … No basis to fund private litigation … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Linda Reynolds v Brittany Higgins
Supreme Court of Western Australia … Details of Brittany Higgins’ defence to defamation proceedings brought by former boss, Senator Linda Reynolds … Higgins to plead defences of justification, qualified privilege, and fair comment/honest opinion … Reynolds pleads conspiracy to injure … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Amanda Ghost & Ors v Rebel Wilson & Ors
Superior Court of California … Australian comic actress Rebel Wilson sued by producers of her directorial debut … Follows claims by Wilson of embezzlement and sexual harassment … Plaintiffs allege falling out over writing credits and music licensing … Punitive damages sought … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Linda Reynolds v Brittany Higgins
Western Australian Supreme Court … Trial date in August set for proceedings brought by Senator Linda Reynolds against former staffer Brittany Higgins … Reynolds suing over social media posts she claims conveys imputations of bullying and harassment, wanting to silence sexual assault survivors … Aggravated damages sought … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Hoser v Georges (No 2)
Federal Circuit and Family Court … Herpetology … Criticism of an author’s reputation and work … Copyright Act … Author’s moral right of integrity of authorship … Limited scope of protections … Remedy in defamation … Hamish Lennon reports … more
Alex Greenwich v Mark Latham
Federal Court … One Nation NSW leader Mark Latham files defence to proceedings brought by independent MP Alex Greenwich … Defends gay sex tweet as honest opinion and a reply to attack … Defends quotes to Daily Telegraph with public interest and qualified privilege defences … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Network Ten Pty Limited v van Onselen
NSW Supreme Court … Academic and former Network Ten political editor Peter van Onselen held to have breached non-disparagement clause in deed of release … Penned article reflecting on viability of Ten and its owner, Paramount … No restraint of trade … No injunction … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Alex Greenwich v Mark Latham
Federal Court … Independent NSW MP Alex Greenwich sues One Nation Upper House Leader Mark Latham … Suing over tweet and comments to Daily Telegraph … Greenwich pleads imputations he is disgusting human being, not a fit and proper person to be in Parliament … Aggravated damages and injunctions sought … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Bruce Lehrmann v Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Federal Court … Bruce Lehrmann files reply to ABC’s defence … Claims broadcaster was actuated by malice, and intended to prejudice fair trial by live broadcast of National Press Club address by Brittany Higgins … Claims public interest, qualified privilege and fair report defences are defeated by malice … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Ben Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications; The Age Company; Federal Capital Press
Federal Court … Judgment in Roberts-Smith trial scheduled for Thursday June 1 … Unlikely to be last word in proceedings … High stakes … Public interest journalism … Reputation of soldier recognised for gallantry … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Bruce Lehrmann v Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Federal Court … ABC to plead public interest, innocent dissemination, fair report and qualified privilege to claim brought by Bruce Lehrmann … Lehrmann sues over broadcast of National Press Club address by Brittany Higgins … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more