Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Christopher Michael Rogers [2002] NSWCA 71

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Christopher Michael Rogers [2002] NSWCA 71 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40868/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 November 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 March 2002

PARTIES : Nationwide News Pty Limited (Appellant) Christopher Michael Rogers (Respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Stein JA at 41; Grove J at 135

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 4067/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Tupman DCJ JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : S D Rares SC/R A Campbell (Appellant) A S Martin SC/A A Henskens (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Gallagher De Reszke (Appellant) Harrington Maguire O'Brien (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION - publication of newspaper article - imputation of defamation - defences - fair protected report - common law qualified privilege - statutory qualified privilege - LIABILITY - whether article was substantially accurate - Defamation Act 1974, ss 22, 24, 26 - knowledge - whether corporate knowledge of the appellant has to be taken into account - DAMAGES - whether manifestly excessive - D LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Anderson v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (1970) 72 SR (NSW) 313; [1970] 1 NSWLR 317 Austin v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 354 Bainton v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1991) ATR 81-143 Barbaro v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 30 Brent Walker Group plc v Time Out Ltd [1991] 2 QB 33 Burchett v Kane (1980) 2 NSWLR 266 Calwell v Ipec Australia Ltd (1975) 135 CLR 321 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44 Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers (1998) 193 CLR 519 Comalco Ltd v ABC (1985-1986) 64 ACR 1 Dameron v Washington Magazine Inc 779 F 2d 736, 739 (1985) Grech v Odhams Press Ltd (1958) 2 QB 275 CASES CITED: Hughes v Washington Daily News Co 193 F 2d 922, 923 Jones v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1986) 4 NSWLR 466 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520 Macdougal v Knight [1886] 17 QBD 636 Mangena v Wright [1909] 2 KB 958 Medico v Time Inc DC Pa, 509 F Supp 268 Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1991) 23 NSWLR 374 Palmer v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 727 Pervan v North Queensland Land Newspaper Co Ltd (1992-1993) 178 CLR 309 Pittman v Gannett River States Publishing Corporation 836 F Supp 377 Risk Allah Bey v Whitehurst (1868) 18 LT 615 Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479 Thom v Associated Newspapers Ltd (1964) 64 SR (NSW) 376 Waterhouse v Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed with costs, the respondent to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act if otherwise entitled; 2. Verdict and judgment of her Honour set aside and verdict entered for the appellant; 3. Respondent to pay appellant's costs of the trial.