Vass v Nationwide News Pty Ltd: 2020/112959 [2021] NSWSC 1704

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Vass v Nationwide News Pty Ltd: 2020/112959 [2021] NSWSC 1704 Hearing dates: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 October 2021 Date of orders: 23 December 2021 Decision date: 23 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Parker J Decision: See [241]-[245] Catchwords: DEFAMATION – settlement – offer of amends – plaintiff accepts offer – whether agreement procured by plaintiff's fraud EQUITY – remedies – specific performance – settlement agreement – defamation proceedings – offer of amends – plaintiff accepts offer – apology – enforceability – unclean hands Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 73 Defamation Act 1974 (NSW), ss 39, 45 Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 15, 17, 18, 20 Cases Cited: Black Uhlans Inc v New South Wales Crime Commission [2002] NSWSC 1060 Callisher v Bischoffsheim (1870) LR 5 QB 449 Cayford v Let Danny Do It Pty Ltd [2021] VSC 707 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kettles and Gas Appliances Ltd v Anthony Hordern & Sons Ltd (1934) 35 SR (NSW) 108 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Vass [2018] NSWCA 259 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Summertime Holdings Pty Ltd v Environmental Defender's Office (1998) 45 NSWLR 291 Vass v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 639 Texts Cited: Heydon, J D, Cross on Evidence (11th ed, 2017, LexisNexis Butterworths) Heydon, J D, Heydon on Contract: The General Part (5th ed, 2019, Lawbook Co.) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Damien Vass (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Nationwide News Pty Limited (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: T Molomby SC/L Goodchild (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) D Sibtain/J Rogers (Defendant/Cross-Claimant)