Newman v Whittington [2022] NSWSC 249

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Newman v Whittington [2022] NSWSC 249 Hearing dates: 24 February 2022 Decision date: 24 February 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Sackar J Decision: Leave granted for the plaintiff to replead certain matters complained of and file amended pleadings accordingly. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Pleadings — Defamation — Whether pleadings contain sufficient particulars — Particulars required to demonstrate publication where publication disseminated via the internet — Whether leave should be granted for plaintiff to replead DEFAMATION — Pleadings — Serious harm element in s 10A of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) — Definition of serious harm — Discussion of relevance of Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd and another [2020] AC 612 in Australia Legislation Cited: Civil Law (Wrongs) Act (ACT) Defamation Act 1974 (NSW) Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) Defamation Act 2005 (Qld) Defamation Act 2005 (SA) Defamation Act 2005 (Tas) Defamation Act 2005 (Vic) Defamation Act 2013 (UK) Human Rights Act 1998 (UK) Cases Cited: Armstrong v McIntosh [No 2] [2019] WASC 379 Barilaro v Shanks-Markovina (No 3) (2021) 393 ALR 469 Bristow v Adams [2012] NSWCA 166 Chappell v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1984) Aust Torts Reports 80-691 Dow Jones v Gutnick (2002) 210 CLR 575 Ezzo v Grille [2004] NSWSC 522 Jameel (Yousef) v Dow Jones & Co Inc [2005] QB 946 Kostov v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2018) 97 NSWLR 1073 Kostov v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 84 Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd and another [2020] AC 612 Lesses v Maras (2017) 128 SASR 292 Massarani v Kriz [2022] FCA 80 Rader v Haines [2021] NSWDC 610 Secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Blacktown City Council [2021] NSWCA 145 Sims v Jooste (No 2) [2016] WASCA 83 Stoltenberg v Bolton; Loder v Bolton (2020) 380 ALR 145 Thornton v Telegraph Media Group [2011] 1 WLR 1985 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Limited (1966) 117 CLR 118 Texts Cited: n/a Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jasmin Newman (plaintiff) Adam Whittington (defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Armitage (plaintiff) T Smartt (defendant)