GORMAN v BARBER & ORS [2004] NSWCA 402

Reported Decision : 61 NSWLR 543

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : GORMAN v BARBER & ORS [2004] NSWCA 402 HEARING DATE(S) : 8 September 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 November 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Beazley JA at 68; Santow JA at 69 DECISION : Appeal allowed.

CATCHWORDS : Defamation - whether imputation defamatory - imputation that specialist medical practitioner "provides treatment to his patients which is useless, dangerous and causes them harm" - powers of Court of Appeal - Supreme Court Act s108(3) allows Court of Appeal to enter verdict on s7A issue in plaintiff's favour in appropriate case. (D) LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974, s7A Supreme Court Act 1970, ss86(1), 108(3) Beran v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 107 Buck v Jones [2002] NSWCA 8 Charlwood Industries Pty Ltd v Brent [2002] NSWCA 201 Cinevest Limited v Yirandi Productions Limited [2001] NSWCA 68, Aust Tort Reports 81-610 Drummond-Jackson v British Medical Association [1970] 1 All ER 1094 Greek Herald Pty Ltd v Nikolopoulos (2002) 54 NSWLR 165 CASES CITED : Hocking v Bell (1945) 71 CLR 430 at 441-2 (High Court), (1947) 75 CLR 125 (Privy Council) John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin (2003) 77 ALJR 1657 Murlarczyk v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 467 Pavy v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 46 Pratten v Labour Daily Ltd [1926] VLR 115 Rivkin v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 87 Shergold v Tanner (2002) 209 CLR 126 Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Sydney v Hogan (2001) 53 NSWLR 343 PARTIES : Richard Francis GORMAN Jane BARBER & Ors FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40507/03 COUNSEL : Appellant: In Person Respondent: P Gray SC/ ATS Dawson SOLICITORS : Appellant: N/A Respondent: Minter Ellison