Webster v Coles Myer Limited; Thompson v Coles Myer Limited [2009] NSWDC 4

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Webster v Coles Myer Limited; Thompson v Coles Myer Limited [2009] NSWDC 4

HEARING DATE(S): 27-30 January 2009 and 6 February 2009 (for further submissions to 1 March 2009)

JUDGMENT DATE: 28 April 2009

JURISDICTION: Civil

JUDGMENT OF: Gibson DCJ

(1) Judgment for Karl Webster in the sum of $80,267.00. DECISION: (2) Judgment for Steward James Thompson in the sum of $253,949.16 (3) Liberty to apply in relation to interest and costs. (4) Exhibits retained for 28 days.

CATCHWORDS: Tort – false imprisonment – plaintiffs apprehended by police following allegations by store managers in two stores in shopping mall - whether false imprisonment an intentional tort – whether physical restraint necessary – whether "but for" the defendant's servant's actions restraint would have occurred – whether the defendant was vicariously liable for its servant's acts – defamation – whether defendant's servant published the three matters complained of – whether defendant vicariously liable - whether plaintiffs identified – whether imputations conveyed and defamatory – whether publication made on an occasion protected by qualified privilege – malice – damages – whether there is overlap between the heads of damage for defamation and false imprisonment – aggravated compensatory damages – special damages – claim of exemplary damages for false imprisonment

Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Defamation Act 1974 (NSW), ss 7A, 9, 22, 46A, 48A Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), s 21 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (UK), s 24(6)

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