Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419 revised - 28/07/2003 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40502/99; 40499/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 8 April 2002, 9 April 2002, 10 April 2002, 11 April 2002, 15 April 2002, 16 April 2002, 17 April 2002, 18 April 2002, 22 April 2002, 23 April 2002, 19 September 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 24 December 2002

PARTIES : Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited John Robert Marsden JUDGMENT OF : Beazley JA at 1; Giles JA at 1; Santow JA at 1

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT 20223/95; 20592/96 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Levine J JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : W H Nicholas QC/R R Stitt QC/K A Rees (A) B W Walker SC/M B J Lee (R) SOLICITORS : Malleson Stephen Jaques (A) Marsdens Law Group (R) CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION - justification - substantial truth - DEFAMATION - qualified privilege - reasonableness - 'Lange' defence - malice - reckless indifference - lack of honest belief - improper motive - DEFAMATION - damages - harm to reputation - lifestyle - injury to feelings - plaintiff not giving evidence - DEFAMATION - damages - psychiatric injury - DEFAMATION - exemplary damages - APPEAL - credit based findings - 'Abalos' principle - STANDARD OF PROOF - civil case - grave allegations - evidence act s140 - INDENTIFICATION EVIDENCE - civil case - CORROBORATION - civil case - allegations of criminal conduct - ADMISSION BY CONDUCT - interfering with witnesses - lies - COSTS - offer of compromise in defamation case - interest Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 333 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) s 24A Defamation Act 1974 (NSW) ss 7A(4), 15(2), 16, 22 LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 32, 48, 135, 140, 164(1), 165 Listening Devices Act 1984 (NSW), ss 3, 5, 13, 16, 19 Police Integrity Commission Act 1996 (NSW), s 56(4)(c) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 94 Supreme Court Rules Pt 37 r 2, Pt 51 r 23(1) Abadom v Abadom (1857) 24 Beav 243 Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Agbaba v Witter (1977) 51 ALJR 503 Alexander v The Queen (1980) 145 CLR 395 Allied Pastoral Holdings Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1983] 1 NSWLR 1 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited v Marsden [2000] NSWCA 167 Anderson v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (No 2) (1986) 5 NSWLR 735 Antoniadis v TCN Channel 9 Pty Ltd (24 April 1997, unreported) Austin v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 354 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v McBride (2001) NSWCA 322 Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Uren (1966) 117 CLR 185 B v N (1994) 35 NSWLR 140 Baden v Societe Generale pour Favoriser le Developpement du Commerce et de L'Industrie en France SA (1983) [1992] 4 All ER 161 Bank of WA Ltd v Ocean Trawlers Pty Ltd (1995) 16 ACSR 501 Barbaro v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 30 Beach Petroleum NL v Abbott Tout Russell Kennedy (1999) 48 NSWLR 1 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1996) 185 CLR 183 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (SC(Qld), Full Court, Davies JA, 13 May 1994, unreported) Bowen-Rolands v Argus Press ("The Times", February 10 and March 26, 1926) Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1833 Bridges v Australian Consolidated Press Limited [1967] 2 NSWR 511 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Broome v Cassell & Co (1972) AC 1027 Brown v Petranker (1991) 22 NSWLR 717 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Buck v R (1982) 8 A Crim R 208 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44 Casley-Smtih v FS Evans & Sons Pty Ltd (No 2) (1988) 49 SASR 332 Chappell v TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited (1988) 14 NSWLR 153 Clarke v Ryan (1960) 103 CLR 486 Clines v Australian Consolidated Press Limited [1966] 1 NSWR 481 Clines v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd (1966) 84 WN(Pt 2)(NSW) 86 Cunliffe v the Commonwealth (1994) 182 CLR 272 Cureton v Blackshaw Services Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 187 Damberg v Damberg [2001] NSWCA 87 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Dingle v Associated Newspapers Ltd (1964) AC 371 Domican v The Queen (1992) 173 CLR 555 DPP v Hester [1973] AC 296 Dubbo Base Hospital v Jones [1979] 1 NSWLR 225 Equiticorp Finance Ltd (in liq) v Bank of New Zealand (1993) 32 NSWLR 50 Erskine v John Fairfax Group Pty Ltd (Levine J, 6 May 1998, unreported) Estex Clothing Manufacturers Pty Ltd v Ellis & Goldstein Ltd (1967) 116 CLR 254 Ettingshausen v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd (1995) 38 NSWLR 404 Ex parte Whitelock; Re Mackenzie [1971] 2 NSWLR 534 Farrel v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 286 Fox v Percy S88/2002 Freeman v G J Coles & Co Ltd (1967) 1 NSWR 297 Galuzzo v R (1986) 23 A Crim R 211 Gamaethige v Minister for Immigration [2001] FCA 565 Goldsmith v Sandilands (2002) 76 ALJR 1024 Goody v Odhams Press Ltd (1967) 1 QB 333 Government Insurance Office of New South Wales v Evans (1990) 21 NSWLR 564 Gray v Motor Accidents Commission (1988) 196 CLR 1 Grbic v Pitkethly (1992) 38 FCR 95 Green Leisure Group Pty Ltd v Maguire [2001] NSWCA 384 Grincelis v House (2000) 201 CLR 321 Gronow v Gronow (1979) 144 CLR 513 H G v The Queen (1999) 73 ALJR 281 Hanson v Border Morning Mail Pty Limited [1987] 9 NSWLR 44 Hartley v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (Allen J, 4 May 1995, unreported) Hobbs v C T Tinling & Co Ltd (1929) 2 KB 1 Holden v Wyong Shire Council (CA, 9 June 1988, unreported) Horrocks v Lowe [1975] AC 135 House v King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Howe v Lees (1910) 11 CLR 361 Hutchinson v Piper (1812) 4 Taunt 535 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Limited [2001] NSWSC 328 In re the Will of F B Gilbert (dec) (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 In re the Will of F B Gilbert (deceased) (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 John Fairfax & Sons Limited & Anor v Vilo (2001) 52 NSWLR 373 John Fairfax & Sons Ltd v Kelly (1987) 8 NSWLR 131 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503 Justin v Associated Newspapers Ltd [1967] 1 NSWLR 61 Kajala v Noble (1982) 75 Cr App R 149 Lane v the Queen (1996) 66 FCR 144 Lange v Atkinson [2000] 3 NZLR 385 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520 Linton v Telnet Pty Ltd (1999) 30 ACSR 465 Loveday v Sun Newspapers Ltd (1938) 59 CLR 503 Lustre Hosiery Ltd v York (1935) 54 CLR 134 Makeig v Derwent [2000] NSWCA 136 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [2000] NSWSC 98 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [2000] NSWSC 227 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [2000] NSWSC 436 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [2000] NSWSC 451 CASES CITED: Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [2000] NSWSC 530 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [2000] NSWSC 702 Martin v Osborne (1936) 55 CLR 367 Masquerade Music Ltd v Springsteen (2001) 51 IPR 650 MBP (SA) Pty Ltd v Gogic (1991) 171 CLR 657 Meyer v Hall (1972) 26 DLR (3d) 309 Middendorp Electric Co Pty Ltd v Sonneveld (2001) VSC 312 Monte v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1979) 2 NSWLR 663 Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (No. 2) (1991) 23 NSWLR 374 Morosi v Mirror Newspapers (1977) 2 NSWLR 749 Murray v R (1987) 11 NSWLR 12 National Australia Bank Ltd v Rusu & Ors (1999) 47 NSWLR 309 Neat Holdings Pty Limited v Karajan Holdings Pty Limited (1993) 67 ALJR 170 New York Times Co v Sullivan (1964) US 254 Norris v Illawarra Newspaper Holdings Pty Ltd (Badgery-Parker J, 15 December 1995, unreported) O'Hagan v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 89 Omychund v Barker (1745) 1 A&K 21 at 49; 26 ER 15 Packer v The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1993) 116 FLR 306 Paric v John Holland Constructions Pty Ltd [1984] 2 NSWLR 505 Parker v Espinoza (1996) 85 A Crim R 366 Pateman v Higgins (1957) 97 CLR 521 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Pedler v Richardson (unreported, NSWSC, Young J, 16 October 1997) Penton v Calwell (1945) 70 CLR 219 Pereira v Director of Public Prosecutions (1988) 63 ALJR 1 Petritsis v Hellenic Herald Pty Ltd (1978) 2 NSWLR 174 Pheeney v Doolan (1977) 1 NSWLR 601 Plato Films Ltd v Speidel (1961) AC1090 Plumb v Australian Consolidated Press Limited (1975) 2 NSWLR 414 Pollitt v R (1992) 174 CLR 558 Precision Plastics Pty Ltd v Demir (1975) 132 CLR 362 Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd v Baker [1937] St R Qd 153 Quinn v Rocla Pipes Pty Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 586 R v Amo & Amuna [1963] P & NGLR 22 R v Basto (1954) 91 CLR 628 R v Beck [1982] 1 All ER 807 R v Chen [1993] 2 VR 139 R v Clough (1992) 28 NSWLR 396 R v Crampton (2000) 206 CLR 161 R v Governor of Pentonville Prison, Ex parte Osman [1989] 3 All ER 701 R v Lewis (unreported, New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, 8 September 1998) R v Liddy (2002) 81 SASR 22 R v Longman (1989) 168 CLR 79 R v Lucas [1981] QB 720 at 724 R v McKenney (1983) 76 Crim App R 271 R v Stretton (1988) 86 Cr App Rep 7 R v Sutton (1986) 5 NSWLR 697 R v Watt (1905) 20 Cox CC 852 Regina v Paisley (1990) 54 A Crim R 42 Rejfek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517 Reynolds v Times Newspapers Limited & Ors (1999) 3 WLR 1010 Reynolds v Times Newspapers Limited [2001] 2 AC 127 Roberts v Bass [2002] HCA 57 (unreported 12 December 2002) Rosenberg v Percival (2001) 205 CLR 434 Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd v Tan Mok Ming [1995] 2 AC 378 Ruby v Marsh (1975) 132 CLR 642 Sharrett v Gill (1993) 65 A Crim R 44 Shehata v Montague L Meyer Pty Ltd (1976) 51 ALJR 77, Sinclair v Bjelke-Petersen [1984] 1 Qd R 484 Sinclair v The King (1946) 73 CLR 316 Skalkos v ASSAF [2002] NSWCA 14 Smith v New South Wales Bar Association (No 2) (1992) 176 CLR 256 Smith v R (1957) 97 CLR 100 Smiths Newspapers Ltd v Becker (1932) 47 CLR 279 State of Queensland v JL Holdings Pty Limited (1997) 189 CLR 146 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) (1999) 160 ALR 588 Steele v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1974) 2 NSWLR 348 Stephens v West Australian Newspapers Limited (1993-94) 182 CLR 211 Stuart v Bell [1891] 2 QB 341 Telegraph Newspaper Co Ltd v Bedford (1934) 50 CLR 632 Television New Zealand Ltd v Quinn (1996) 3 NZLR 24 The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church v Hogan (2001) 53 NSWLR 343 Theophanous v Herald & Weekly Times Limited (1994) 182 CLR 104 Thompson v Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd (1998) 133 ACTR 1 Twinsectra Ltd v Yardley [2002] 2 AC 164 Urban Transport Authority of NSW v Nweiser (1992) 28 NSWLR 471 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118 Ventouris v Mountain (No 2) [1992] 3 All ER 414 Vilo v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1206 Vilo v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd by Simpson J [2000] NSWSC 937 Ware v Associated Newspapers Ltd (1969) WN(NSW) 180 Waterhouse v Station 2GB Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Wheeler v Page (1983) 31 SASR 1 Whitehouse Properties Pty Ltd v Bond Brewing (NSW) Ltd (1992) 28 NSWLR 17 Williams v the Minister Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1993 and the State of New South Wales [2000] NSWCA 255 Wily v Fitz-Gibbon (unreported, FCA, Hill J, 2 March 1998) Witness v Marsden (2000) 49 NSWLR 429 WK v SR (1997) 22 Fam LR 592 XL Petroleum (NSW) Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd (1985) 155 CLR 448 DECISION : No substantive orders at this time. Stood over for mention on 14 February 2003