Balzola v Passas [2020] NSWSC 896

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Balzola v Passas [2020] NSWSC 896 Hearing dates: 29; 30 April 2019; 1; 3; 14 May 2019 Date of orders: 31 July 2020 Decision date: 31 July 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: See paragraph 256 Catchwords: DEFAMATION – oral defamatory statement – defences – common law qualified privilege – reply to attack – remedies – aggravated damages – compensatory damages – damage to reputation – injury to feelings – grapevine effect Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 100 Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) ss 7, 30, 34, 35 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 140 Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1900 (NSW) s 32 Cases Cited: Balzola v Passas [2019] NSWSC 1724 Bashford v Information Australia Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 366; [2004] HCA 5 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31 Cerutti v Crestside [2016] 1 Qd R 89; [2014] QCA 33 Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers Ltd (1998) 193 CLR 519; [1998] HCA 37 Coles Supermarkets Australia Ltd v Clarke [2013] NSWCA 272 Feo v Pioneer Concrete (Vic) Pty Ltd [1999] 3 VR 417; [1999] VSCA 180 Howden v "Truth" and "Sportsman" Limited & Anor (1937) 58 CLR 416; [1937] HCA 74 Penton v Calwell (1945) 70 CLR 219 Tournier v National Provincial and Union Bank of England [1924] 1KB 461 Trkulja v Google LLC (2018) 263 CLR 149; [2018] HCA 25 Umeyor v Ibe [2016] EWHC 862 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40 Texts Cited: John G Fleming, Law of Torts (8th ed, 1992, Law Book Company) Richard Parkes QC et al, Gatley on Libel and Slander (12th ed, 2017, Sweet and Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Balzola (Plaintiff) Julie Passas (First Defendant) Anthony Raciti (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Rasmussen (Plaintiff) Mr N Kirby (Defendants) Solicitors: Stewart Cuddy & Mokkler (Plaintiff) Otto Stichter & Associates (Defendants) File Number(s): 2017/86708