Federal Court … Mother of murdered woman fails to obtain separate question hearing on serious harm … Sought hearing under Federal Court Rules, rather than s.10A(5) of the Defamation Act … Outcome may well have been different under Defamation Act … Justice Roger Derrington calls for changes to Rules … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Category: Serious harm
Jones v Jackson (No 2)
NSW District Court … Paralympian cyclist fails to establish serious harm element … Preliminary determination of issue … Limited engagement with Facebook post … No platform of facts … No evidence of harm caused to sporting career … Investigation not a consequence of post … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Hun v Aljazeera International (Malaysia) SBN BHD
Federal Court … Court rejects bid by Al Jazeera and The Australian for separate hearing on serious harm … Proceedings brought by nephew of Hun Sen … Court rejects “libel tourist” characterisation … Case for serious harm not as weak as suggested by respondents … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Selkirk v Hocking (No 2)
Federal Court … Sydney solicitor has defamation proceedings against digital marketer dismissed … Failed to establish serious harm … Proceedings concerned report of appeal over finding she had defrauded David Jones … Admitted to deception but not to offence of fraud … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Supaphien v Chaiyabarn
ACT Supreme Court … Personal shopper’s action over social media claims she sold a fake Chanel handbag are dismissed … Serious harm threshold not met … No evidence or platform of facts for publication and downloading … No evidence of business losses … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Hun To v Al Jazeera International & Ors; Hun To v Nationwide News & Anor
Federal Court … Applications from Al Jazeera and Nationwide News for separate hearing on serious harm … Proceedings brought Hun To, nephew of former Cambodian PM, Hun Sen … Submissions: no evidence of serious harm to reputation in Melbourne … Libel tourism … Hun To points to deferral of visa decision … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Selkirk v Hocking
Federal Court … Justice David O’Callaghan asks whether Defamation Act provisions concerning separate hearing on serious harm fetters case management powers of the Federal Court … Proceedings brought by Sydney solicitor over republished report of appeal on charges of defrauding David Jones … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Scott v Bodley (No. 2)
NSW District Court … NSW North Coast house painter has action dismissed over serious harm element … Sued over one-star Google review … Court says Google reviews read with caution … No evidence publication was read … Curb on backyard disputes … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
High Quality Jewellers Pty Ltd v Ramaihi (Ruling)
County Court of Victoria … Individual plaintiffs fail to establish serious harm … Proceedings brought over one star Google review … Lack of evidence on extent of publication … No evidence of financial loss … Type of case reforms intended to address … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Randell v McLachlain
NSW District Court … Proceedings brought by school principal summarily dismissed … Failure to provide adequate particulars of serious harm in concerns notice and statement of claim … Failure to provide particulars of downloading … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Nyasulu v Naikelekele
NSW District Court … Church leaders suing over claims of satanic powers in Facebook posts … Defendant seeks summary dismissal over serious harms particulars … Sufficient particulars … Defendant says demonic possession outlandish in 21st century … No basis for assertion … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more
Zimmermann v Perkiss
NSW District Court … First serious harm decision following hearing … Dog groomer sued over private Facebook Messenger post to new employer … No evidence of serious harm … Courts Editor Stephen Murray reports … more