Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons [2000] NSWCA 53

Reported Decision : [2000] Aust Torts Reports 81-562

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons [2000] NSWCA 53 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40550/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 9 March 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 March 2000

PARTIES : Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Ltd (Appellant) Keith Parsons (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Stein JA at 1; Heydon JA at 2; Foster AJA at 55

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 283/96 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Taylor DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : C Evatt/G Hansen (Appellant) T K Tobin QC/ T Molomby (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Hunt & Hunt (Appellant) McDonald Johnson (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Tort of injurious falsehood - improper motive - false, misleading, maliciously published material - disseminated by grapevine effect - natural and probable consequence of republication of false material - Patrick Nugawela v Reginald Crampton and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (Supreme Court of NSW, Levine J, unreported, 31 January 1996) - no intent to injure without just cause or excuse - no actual damage or injury suffered by the plaintiff by reason of the malicious publication of false material - ND Kaye v Robinson [1991] FSR 62 The Royal Baking Powder Co v Wright, Crossley & Co. (1900) 18 RPC 95 CASES CITED: Ajello v Worsley [1898] 1 Ch 274 Ratcliffe v Evans [1892] 2 QB 524 George v Blow (1899) 20 NSWLR 395 DECISION : Appeal dismissed; the appellant is to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal

THE SUPREME COURT

OF NEW SOUTH WALES

COURT OF APPEAL