Nassif v Seven Network (Operations) Ltd [2021] FCA 1286

Federal Court of Australia

Nassif v Seven Network (Operations) Ltd [2021] FCA 1286 File number: NSD 1184 of 2019

Judgment of: ABRAHAM J

Date of judgment: 22 October 2021

Catchwords: DEFAMATION – where numerous defamatory imputations alleged – where publication complained of was a news story broadcast by Channel Seven on "Seven News" in Sydney – consideration of whether the alleged imputations were conveyed by the publications – whether the imputations carried a defamatory meaning – where defence of contextual truth pleaded pursuant to s 26 of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) – where defence of fair summary of a public document pleaded pursuant to s 28 of the Defamation Act – where defence of honest opinion pleaded pursuant to s 31 of the Defamation Act Held: application granted – imputations carried a defamatory meaning – defamatory imputations conveyed by the publications – no pleaded defence made out DAMAGES – where first applicant claims for damage to reputation and hurt feelings – where first applicant claims aggravated damages – where second applicant claims for damages for vindication of and harm to business reputation – where second applicant a not-for-profit charity – where second applicant has not shown any economic loss or probability of economic loss

Legislation: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) ss 4, 9, 26, 28, 31, 37

Cases cited: Abou-Lokmeh v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 228 Ali v Nationwide News Ltd [2008] NSWCA 183 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Andrews v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 225 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Chau Chak Wing [2019] FCAFC 125; (2019) 271 FCR 632 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Comalco Ltd (1986) 12 FCR 510; (1986) 68 ALR 259 Bauer Media Pty Ltd v Wilson (No 2) [2018] VSCA 154; (2018) 56 VR 674 Besser v Kermode [2011] NSWCA 174; (2011) 81 NSWLR 157 Boyd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 449 Brien v Mrad [2020] NSWCA 259 Bristow v Adams [2012] NSWCA 166 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1993] HCA 31; (1993) 178 CLR 44 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers Limited [1998] HCA 37; (1998) 193 CLR 519 Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd v Manock [2007] HCA 60; (2007) 232 CLR 245 Chau v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 185 Chulcough v Holley [1968] ALR 274 (1968) 41 ALJR 336 Comalco Ltd v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1985) 64 ACTR 1 Coyne v Citizen Finance Limited [1991] HCA 10; (1991) 172 CLR 211 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 Cummings v Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Limited; Cummings v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited [2017] NSWSC 657 Cummings v Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd; Cummings v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 325; (2018) 99 NSWLR 173 Derbyshire County Council v Times Newspapers Ltd [1992] UKHL 6; [1993] AC 534 Domican v Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 1384 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Zeccola [2015] NSWCA 329; (2015) 91 NSWLR 341 Fairfax Media Publications v Gayle [2019] NSWCA 172; (2019) 100 NSWLR 155 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 52; (2005) 79 ALJR 1716 Fenn v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2018] VSCA 166 Feo v Pioneer Concrete (Vic) Pty Ltd [1999] VSCA 180; (1999) 3 VR 417 Gayle v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1838 Goldsbrough v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 524 Hanson-Young v Leyonhjelm (No 4) [2019] FCA 1981 Harbour Radio Pty Ltd v Ahmed [2015] NSWCA 290; (2015) 90 NSWLR 695 Harbour Radio Pty Ltd v Tingle [2001] NSWCA 194 Hayson v The Age Company Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 361 Herald and Weekly Times Ltd v McGregor [1928] HCA 36; (1928) 41 CLR 254 Herron v HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] FCA 1687 Hockey v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 652; (2015) 237 FCR 33 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake (2001) 53 NSWLR 541 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Hitchcock (2007) 70 NSWLR 484 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v O'Shane (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 291 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v O'Shane [2005] NSWCA 164; (2005) ATR 81-789 Kay v Chesser [1999] VSCA 83; (1999) 3 VR 55 Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd [1964] AC 234 Macquarie Radio Network Pty Ltd v Arthur Dent [2007] NSWCA 261 Madden v Seafolly Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 30; (2014) 313 ALR 1 Marshall v Megna [2013] NSWCA 30 McMahon v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] NSWSC 196 Mirror Newspapers Ltd v Fitzpatrick [1984] 1 NSWLR 643 Mirror Newspapers Ltd v World Hosts Pty Ltd [1984] 1 NSWLR 643; (1979) 141 CLR 632 Moit v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 322 Murphy v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] FCA 781 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Rush [2020] FCAFC 115; (2020) 380 ALR 32 Nationwide News v Weatherup [2017] QCA 70; [2018] Qd R 19 NSW Aboriginal Land Council v Jones (1998) 43 NSWLR 300 O'Brien v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2016] NSWSC 1289 Orion Pet Products v Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Victoria) Inc [2002] FCA 860; (2002) 120 FCR 191 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Chesterton [2009] HCA 16; (2009) 238 CLR 460 Ratcliffe v Evans [1892] 2 QB 524 at 528-530 Robertson v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd & The Development and Environmental Professionals' Association v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 473; (2003) 58 NSWLR 247 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2003] HCA 52 (2003) 216 CLR 327 Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSW) v 2KY Broadcasters Pty Ltd (1988) A Def R 50-030 Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals New South Wales v Davies [2011] NSWSC 1445 Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 7) [2019] FCA 496 Selecta Homes and Building Company Pty Ltd v Advertiser-News Weekend Publishing Company Pty Ltd (2001) 79 SASR 451 Slim v Daily Telegraph Ltd [1968] 2 QB 157 State of New South Wales v IG Index Plc [2007] VSCA 212; (2007) 17 VR 87 Stead v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 15 Triggell v Pheeney [1951] HCA 23; (1951) 82 CLR 497 V'landys v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 3) [2021] FCA 500 Waterhouse v Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Webster v Brewer (No 3) [2020] FCA 1343