Wraydeh v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited; Wraydeh v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2021] NSWCA 153

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Wraydeh v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited; Wraydeh v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2021] NSWCA 153 Hearing dates: 10 May 2021 Date of orders: 21 July 2021 Decision date: 21 July 2021 Before: Bell P at [1] Gleeson JA at [2] Simpson AJA at [3] Decision: Each appeal dismissed with costs Catchwords: DEFAMATION – defences – common law qualified privilege – privileged occasion – privileged communication – whether communication relevant to privileged occasion – no test of necessity – news publications based on police media releases – additional information in publications not foreign to occasion of privilege DEFAMATION – remedies – compensatory damages – whether assessment of damages manifestly inadequate – primary judge justified in using appellant's failure to correct the record as indicative that the appellant was not hurt and distressed as claimed DEFAMATION – remedies – compensatory damages – whether assessment of damages manifestly inadequate – adverse credibility findings Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 25, 30 Cases Cited: Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Aktas v Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 79; [2010] HCA 25 Andreyevich v Kosovich and Publicity Press (1938) Pty Ltd (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 357 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 366; [2004] HCA 5 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1996) 185 CLR 183; [1996] HCA 47 Bennette v Cohen [2009] NSWCA 60 Bowen v Hall (1881) 6 QBD 333 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd; Carson v Slee (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31 Cush v Dillon (2011) 243 CLR 298; [2011] HCA 30 Dickson v Earl of Wilton (1859) 1 F. & F. 419; 175 ER 790 Guise v Kouvelis (1947) 74 CLR 102; [1947] HCA 13 Howe and McColough v Lees (1910) 11 CLR 361; [1910] HCA 67 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520; [1997] HCA 25 Marshall v Megna; Megna v Tory; Tory v Megna [2013] NSWCA 30 Mowlds v Fergusson (1939) 40 SR (NSW) 311 Papaconstuntinos v Holmes a Court (2012) 249 CLR 534; [2012] HCA 53 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 57 Sands v South Australia [2015] SASCFC 36 Stephens v West Australian Newspapers Ltd (1994) 182 CLR 211; [1994] HCA 45 Theophanous v Herald & Weekly Times Ltd (1994) 182 CLR 104; [1994] HCA 46 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181; 149 ER 1044 Texts Cited: John Clement Carpenter Gatley and Richard O'Sullivan, Gatley on Libel and Slander (3rd ed, 1938, Sweet & Maxwell) David Rolph, Defamation Law (2016, Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Limited) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hussein Wraydeh (Appellant) Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (Respondent) Nationwide News Pty Limited (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Molomby SC/R Rasmussen (Appellant) T Blackburn SC/L Barnett (Respondents)