Blaylock-Rayner v Seven Network (Operations) Limited [2023] FCA 1026

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Blaylock-Rayner v Seven Network (Operations) Limited [2023] FCA 1026 File number(s): VID 525 of 2022

Judgment of: ANDERSON J

Date of judgment: 29 August 2023

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application to strike out contextual imputations and particulars of defence – whether pleaded imputations are conveyed by matter complained of – whether pleaded imputations are otherwise bad in form – whether pleaded imputations are capable of being proven based on particulars – application dismissed

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1974 (Cth) s 37M Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 16.21, 16.41, 16.43 Defamation Act 2005 (Vic) s 26

Cases cited: Abou-Lokmeh v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 228 Adeang v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2016] FCA 1200 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Wing (2019) 271 FCR 632 Burstein v Times [2001] 1 WLR 579 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Eggerth v EPI International Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 1547 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Kermode (2011) 81 NSWLR 157 Faruqi v Latham [2018] FCA 1328 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (2005) 221 ALR 186 Goodfellow v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 1152 Hayson v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 376 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake [2001] NSWCA 434 Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd [1964] AC 234 Nassif v Seven Network (Operations) Ltd [2021] FCA 1286 Palmer v McGowan [2021] FCA 430 Palmer v McGowan (No 5) [2022] FCA 893 Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 357 Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 2) (2018) 359 ALR 564 Schiff v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (No 4) [2023] FCA 688 Thomson v STX Pan Ocean Co Ltd [2012] FCAFC 15 Wing v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2018] FCA 1340 Wootton v Sievier [1913] 3 KB 499