TUCKER & ANOR v ECHO PUBLICATIONS PTY LTD & ANOR [2003] NSWSC 554

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : TUCKER & ANOR v ECHO PUBLICATIONS PTY LTD & ANOR [2003] NSWSC 554 HEARING DATE(S) : 6 November 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 25 June 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Levine J DECISION : 1. I decline orders 1 - 3 in the amended notice of motion.; 2. The defendant has leave to amend contextual imputation 7(a)(ii) in accordance with paragraph [21] of these reasons.; 3. I order the defendants to provide further and better particulars, within 21 days of today, of their case under s16 with respect to contextual imputations 7(a)(iv), (v), (vi) and (vii).; 4. The plaintiffs are to pay the defendants costs of the hearing of the motion.; 5. I place the matter in the Registrar's Defamation Directions List on 11 July 2003.

CATCHWORDS : Admission on pleading - leave to withdraw - comment - altrenative defences - s16 defence - contextual imputations vis-à-vis failed plaintiff's imputations - s7A(4)(a) Defamation Act LEGISLATION CITED : s 7A Defamation Act 1974 Casey v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1981) 1 NSWLR 305 Fidelitas Shipping Co Ltd v V/O Exportchleb [1991] 1 QB 630 Haines v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995) 43 NSWLR 404 CASES CITED : Hepburn v TCN Channel Nine [1984] 1 NSWLR 386 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake; David Syme & Co Ltd v Blake (2001) 53 NSWLR 541 McBride v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2000] NSWSC 747 O'Toole v Charles David Pty Ltd (1990) 171 CLR 232 Whelan & Anor v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd & Anor [2002] NSWSC 1028 ROSS TUCKER (First plaintiff)