Jay v Petrikas [2023] NSWCA 297

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Jay v Petrikas [2023] NSWCA 297 Hearing dates: 17 August 2023 Date of orders: 12 December 2023 Decision date: 12 December 2023 Before: Payne JA at [1]; Kirk JA at [2]; Griffiths JA at [3] Decision: (1) Time is extended for the filing of the summon seeking leave to appeal. (2) Leave to appeal is granted. (3) The appellants to file a notice of appeal in the terms of the draft notice of appeal within seven days. (4) The appeal is dismissed, with costs. Catchwords: APPEALS – Leave to appeal – question of general principle – scope of tort of injurious falsehood TORTS – Economic torts – Injurious falsehood – malice – where false representations were beliefs or opinions reasonably held TORTS – Economic torts – Injurious falsehood – falsity – whether any error to approach to falsity in the particular circumstances of the case TORTS – Economic torts – Injurious falsehood – damages – whether representations leading to internal investigation caused actual damage – whether aggravated and/or exemplary damages could be awarded in the circumstances TORTS – Economic torts – Injurious falsehood – scope – where unsuitable to determine given failure of other aspects of the appeal Legislation Cited: District Court Act 1973 (NSW) s 127(2)(c) Police Act 1892-1953 (WA) Rural Fire Regulation 2013 (NSW) Pt 2 regs 7, 9, 10 Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW) ss 8, 15, 18, 20, 21 Uniform Civil Procedural Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 5.2, 13.4, 14.28, 51.36(2) Cases Cited: A v State of NSW (2007) 230 CLR 500; [2007] HCA 10 Anon (1706) 11 Mod Ref 99; 88 ER 921 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hellicar (2012) 247 CLR 345; [2012] HCA 17 Ballina Shire Council v Ringland (1994) 33 NSWLR 680 CSR Ltd v Adecco (Australia) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 121 Eppinga v Kalil [2023] NSWCA 287 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hamod v NSW [2011] NSWCA 375 Jay v Petrikas [2022] NSWSC 1497 Jay v Petrikas (No 4) [2022] NSWDC 628 Jay v Petrikas (No 5) [2023] NSWDC 7 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 KSMC Holdings Pty Ltd (t/as Hubba Bubba on Haig) v Bowden [2020] NSWCA 28 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 361; [2011] HCA 11 Ling v Pang [2023] NSWCA 112 McMillan v Coolah Home Base Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 172 Noye v Robbins & Crimmins [2007] WASC 98 Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons (2001) 208 CLR 388; [2001] HCA 69 Randren House Pty Ltd v Water Administration Ministerial Corporation [2020] NSWCA 14 RHG Mortgage Corporation Ltd v Ianni [2016] NSWCA 270 Sagacious Legal Pty Ltd v Wesfarmers General Insurance Ltd [2011] FCAFC 53 The Property Investors Alliance Pty Ltd v C88 Project Pty Ltd (in liq) [2023] NSWCA 291 Trad v Harbor Radio Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 41 Trobridge v Hardy (1955) 94 CLR 147; [1955] HCA 68 Texts Cited: H Ballantine and F Schenk, Blackstone's Commentaries (Blackstone Institute, 1915) William Blackstone, Commentary on the Laws of England (Book II, Ch 1, 1765-1769) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Graeme Jay (First Applicant) John Peters (Second Applicant) Chris Petrikas (First Respondent) David Ryan (Second Respondent) Ian Wedge (Third Respondent) Karen Hodges (Fourth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Crispin (Applicants) M Richardson SC/T Senior (Respondents)