West & Anor v Nationwide News Pty Ltd t/as Cumberland Newspaper Group [2003] NSWSC 505

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : West & Anor v Nationwide News Pty Ltd t/as Cumberland Newspaper Group [2003] NSWSC 505 HEARING DATE(S) : Monday 12 - Friday 16 May 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 August 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Simpson J DECISION : In relation to imputations (a), (d), (f) and (i): (i) verdict for the defendant; in relation to the imputations (c), (h), (e) and (j): (ii) verdict for the first plaintiff in the sum of $20,000 (iii) verdict for the second plaintiff in the sum of $30,000; I will hear the parties in relation to costs, interest, and any other matters that remain outstanding; I will direct the parties, in due course, to bring in short minutes of order reflecting my conclusions.

CATCHWORDS : defamation - substantial truth - contextual imputations - s13 - the unlikelihood of harm - fair protected report - qualified privilege - damages - aggravated damages - falsity of the imputations - failure to make enquiries - conduct of the litigation LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974, (NSW) s7A, s13, s15, s16, s22, s24, ss32-33 Evidence Act 1995, s140 Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419, unreported, 24 December 2002 Andrews v John Fairfax and Sons Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 225 Braddock v Bevins [1948] 1 KB 580 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Cassell and Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers Limited (1998) 193 CLR 519 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Parras [200] NSWCA 202, unreported, 1 July 2002 Clark v Ainsworth (1996) 40 NSWLR 463 Cotter v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 503, unreported, 22 July 2003 CASES CITED : Fortunate Investments Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2001] NSWLEC 70, 15 March 2001 Howden v "Truth" and "Sportsman" Ltd (1937) 58 CLR 416 John Fairfax and Sons Ltd v Vilo [2001] NSWCA 290; 52 NSWLR 73 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake; David Syme & Co Ltd v Blake [2001] NSWCA 434; 53 NSWLR 541 Lange v The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520 Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 749 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Rogers [2002] NSWCA 71, unreported, 15 March 2002 Roberts v Bass [2002] HCA 57; 77 ALJR 292 Sutherland v Stopes [1925] AC 47 Vilo v John Fairfax and Sons Ltd [2000] NSWSC 937, unreported, 6 October 2000 Watt v Longsdon [1930] 1KB 130 Robert West - 1st Plaintiff PARTIES : Fortunate Investments Pty Ltd - 2nd Plaintiff Nationwide News Pty Ltd t/as Cumberland Newspaper Group - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20752/01 COUNSEL : CA Evatt with JE Rawlings 1st & 2nd Plaintiffs TS Hale SC - Defendant SOLICITORS : AJ Turner - 1st & 2nd Plaintiffs Cropper Parkhill - Defendant