Capilano Honey Ltd v Dowling (No 4) [2021] NSWSC 264

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Capilano Honey Ltd v Dowling (No 4) [2021] NSWSC 264 Hearing dates: 25, 26, 27 & 28 May and 3 June 2020 Decision date: 26 March 2021 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Button J Decision: (1) Verdict and judgment for the first plaintiff in the sum of $25,000. (2) Verdict and judgment for the second plaintiff in the sum of $150,000. (3) Costs reserved. Catchwords: DEFAMATION — website and ancillary social media operated by defendant — assertions that company with which second plaintiff closely associated selling "toxic honey" — other assertions about second plaintiff directly — all imputations made out — no defences able to be relied upon — tort established — effect of implausible nature of statements on award of damages — damages awarded INJURIOUS FALSEHOOD — written online statements that corporate first plaintiff selling "toxic honey" — whether statements false — whether statements malicious — relevance of possibly sincere belief in truth of statements in determination of malice — difficulty in assessing quantum of damages to civil onus and standard of proof — damages awarded PERMANENT INJUNCTION — whether defendant should be permanently restrained from repeating statements and making similar statements — relevance of previous conduct of defendant in litigation Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 7(2), 35 Cases Cited: Ali v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 183 Australand Holdings Ltd v Transparency and Accountability Council Incorporated [2008] NSWSC 669 Born Brands Pty Limited & Ors v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] NSWSC 642 Capilano Honey v Dowling (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 539 Capilano Honey Ltd v Dowling (No 3) [2020] NSWSC 662 Capilano Honey Ltd v Dowling [2020] NSWSC 660 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31 Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers Ltd (1998) 193 CLR 519; [1998] HCA 37 Dingle v Associated Newspapers Ltd [1964] AC 371 Doe v Dowling [2019] NSWSC 1222 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125; [2008] HCA 36 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520; [1997] HCA 25 Mirror Newspapers Ltd v World Hosts Pty Ltd (1979) 141 CLR 632 Moit v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 322 Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons (2001) 208 CLR 388; [2001] HCA 69 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Shane Dowling [2017] NSWSC 664 Trkulja v Google LLC [2018] HCA 25; (2018) 92 ALJR 619 Urbanchich v Drummoyne Municipal Council (1991) Aust Tort Reports 81 Zaia v Eshow [2017] NSWSC 1540 Texts Cited: Patrick George, Defamation Law in Australia (2nd edition, 2012, Lexis Nexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hive and Wellness Australia Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff) Dr Ben McKee (Second Plaintiff) Shane Dowling (Defendant) (self-represented) Representation: Counsel: M A Cowden (Plaintiffs)