V'landys v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2023] FCAFC 80

Federal Court of Australia

V'landys v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2023] FCAFC 80 Appeal from: V'landys v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 3) [2021] FCA 500

File number(s): NSD 524 of 2021

Judgment of: RARES, KATZMANN AND O'CALLAGHAN JJ

Date of judgment: 26 May 2023

Catchwords: DEFAMATION – appeal against primary judge's findings that no imputations conveyed in trial by judge alone – whether primary judge erred in making findings of characteristics of ordinary reasonable viewer of matter complained of without evidence – whether primary judge entitled to have regard to own first or final impressions of whether imputations conveyed – where new case not put to primary judge raised on appeal – Held: appeal dismissed.

Cases cited: Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Banditt v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 262 Bazzi v Dutton (2022) 289 FCR 1 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 Rep 67 Capital and Counties Bank v Henty (1882) 7 App Cas 741 Chau v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 3) (2021) 386 ALR 36 Commissioner of Metropolitan Police v Caldwell [1982] AC 341 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89 Farquhar v Bottom [1980] 2 NSWLR 380 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (2005) 221 ALR 186 Gatto v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2022] VSCA 66 Horlick v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2010] EWHC 1544 (QB) Jeynes v News Magazines Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 130 John v Times Newspapers Ltd [2012] EWHC 2751 (QB) Mirror Newspapers Ltd v Harrison (1982) 149 CLR 293 Morgan v Odhams Press Ltd [1971] 1 WLR 1239 Readers Digest Services Pty Ltd v Lamb (1982) 150 CLR 500 Skuse v Granada Television Ltd [1996] EMLR 278 Slim v Daily Telegraph Ltd [1968] 2 QB 157 Trkulja v Google LLC (2018) 263 CLR 149 University of Wollongong v Melwally (No 2) (1985) 59 ALJR 481 V'landys v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 3) [2021] FCA 500 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531