Gough v Squillacioti [2021] NSWDC 411

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gough v Squillacioti [2021] NSWDC 411 Hearing dates: 7-9, 11 and 15 June 2021 Date of orders: 20 August 2021 Decision date: 20 August 2021 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: J Smith SC, DCJ Decision: The proceedings are dismissed. The plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: DEFAMATION – Defamatory matter – Defamatory capacity of imputations – Disparagement of reputation – Qualified privilege – Strata committee Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 Cases Cited: Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 366 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Chief Commissioner of State Revenue v Adams Bidco [2019] NSWCA 34 Cush v Dillon (2011) 243 CLR 298 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 1716 Gulic v Boral Transport Ltd [2016] NSWCA 269 Hanson-Young v Leyonhjelm (No 4) [2019] FCA 1981 Hockey v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 652 JWR Productions Australia Pty Ltd v Duncan-Watt (No 2) [2020] FCA 236; 377 ALR 467 KSMC Holdings Pty Ltd t/as Hubba Bubba Childcare on Haig v Bowden [2020] NSWCA 28 Lewis v Daily Telegraph [1964] AC 234 Murray v Raynor [2019] NSWCA 274 Nevin v B & R Enclosures Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 339 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Chesterton (2009) 238 CLR 460 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1 Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 7) [2019] FCA 496 V'landys v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 3) [2021] FCA 500 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Janette Marie Gough (Plaintiff) Pietro Squillacioti (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Rasmussen (Plaintiff) Mr R Potter SC with Mr B Dean (Defendant)