Adeang v The Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2016] FCA 1200

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Adeang v The Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2016] FCA 1200 File number: NSD 552 of 2016

Judge: RARES J

Date of judgment: 10 October 2016

Catchwords: DEFAMATION – Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) ss 25, 26 – Federal Court Rules 2011 – requirements for pleadings pursuant to r 16.02 – pleading of imputations and contextual imputations – consideration of principles for pleading defamatory meaning – whether imputation of suspicion must identify the holder of that suspicion – consideration of principles for pleading an imputation of suspicion – Sergi v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1983] 2 NSWLR 669 not followed and Fairfax Media Publications v Zeccola [2015] NSWCA 329 distinguished DEFAMATION – form of imputations – whether imputation pleading that plaintiff had so conducted himself as to give rise to suspicion was vague, unspecific and defective for failing to identify the person who held suspicion – need for imputation and contextual imputation to attribute an act or condition to plaintiff sufficiently related to nature and context of matter complained of DEFAMATION – whether particulars of justification and contextual truth embarrassing or defective in form – necessity for precision in particulars of truth and that they be capable of supporting pleaded imputation being justified

Legislation: Federal Court Rules 2011 r 16.02 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 37M Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) ss 8, 25, 26 Defamation Act 1974 (NSW)

Cases cited: Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 APN New Zealand Ltd v Simunovich Fisheries Ltd [2010] 1 NZLR 315 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Hodgkinson [2005] NSWCA 190 Crosby v Kelly [2013] FCA 1343 David Syme & Co Ltd v Lloyd [1984] 3 NSWLR 346 Drummoyne Municipal Corporation v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Edwards v Bell (1824) 1 Bing 403; 130 ER 162 Fairfax Media Publications v King [2015] NSWCA 172 Fairfax Media Publications v Zeccola [2015] NSWCA 329 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (2005) 221 ALR 186 George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104 Greig v WIN Television NSW Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1118 Greig v WIN Television NSW Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 632 Hough v London Express Newspaper Ltd [1940] 2 KB 507 Hussein v Chong Fook Kam [1970] AC 942 Jones v Skelton [1963] 63 SR (NSW) 644 Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd [1964] AC 234 Liversidge v Anderson [1942] AC 206 Lloyd v David Syme & Co Ltd [1986] AC 350 Mirror Newspapers Ltd v Harrison (1982) 149 CLR 293 Purcell v Cruising Yacht Club of Australia [2003] NSWSC 245 R v Hillier (2007) 228 CLR 618 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Chesterton (2009) 238 CLR 460 Reader's Digest Services Pty Ltd v Lamb (1982) 150 CLR 500 Sergi v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1983] 2 NSWLR 669 Shah v Standard Chartered Bank [1999] QB 241 Weaver v Lloyd (1824) 2 B&C 678; 107 ER 535 Webb v Bloch (1928) 41 CLR 331 Whelan v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1988) 12 NSWLR 148 Willmett v Harmer (1839) 8 C&P 695; 173 ER 678