John Fairfax Publications Pty. Limited & Anor. v. Jones [2004] NSWCA 205

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : John Fairfax Publications Pty. Limited & Anor. v. Jones [2004] NSWCA 205 HEARING DATE(S) : 13 April 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 June 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Hodgson JA; Ipp JA DECISION : 1. In CA40055 of 2003 (concerning aggravated damages), leave to appeal refused with costs. 2. In CA40056 of 2003 (concerning contextual imputations and other defences: (a) Leave to appeal granted. (b) Notice of Appeal to be filed within 14 days. (c) Appeal allowed in part. (d) Order 1-6 below set aside. (e) In lieu thereof, paragraphs 4 and 6(a)(2)-(6) of the defence are struck out. 3. Leave to both parties to make written submissions concerning costs within 7 days, any reply to be provided within a further 7 days.

CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION - Defences - Contextual imputation - Whether capable of being carried - Whether "another imputation" - Whether "swamps" plaintiff's imputation - Maisel and Polly Peck defences - Aggravated damages - What particulars required. LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974 s.16 Allen v. John Fairfax & Sons Limited, Hunt, J, NSWSC, 2/12/88 Bishop v. Latimer (1861) 4 LT(NS) 775 Chakravarti v. Advertiser Newspapers Ltd. (1998) 193 CLR 519 Clark v. Ainsworth (1996) 40 NSWLR 463 David Syme & Co. Ltd. v. Hore-lacy [2000] 1 VR 667 Drummoyne Municipal Council v. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Goody v. Oldham Press Ltd. [1967] 1 QB 333 Grubic v. Mirror Newspapers Limited, Hunt J, 7/12/84 Gruzman v. John Fairfax & Sons Limited, Hunt J, 28/9/81 Hepburn v. TCN Channel Nine Pty. Ltd. (1984) 1 NSWLR 386 Jackson v. John Fairfax & Sons Ltd. (1981) 1 NSWLR 30 CASES CITED : John Fairfax Publications Pty. Ltd. v. Blake (2001) 53 NSWLR 541 Maisel v. Financial Times Limited No.1 (1915) 84 LJKB 2145 McGrath v Black (1926) 95 LJKB 951 Plato Films Ltd. v. Speidel (1961) AC 1090 Polly Peck (Holdings) PLC v. Trelford [1986] 1 QBL 1000 Roberts v. Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1 Singleton v. John Fairfax & Sons Ltd., Hunt J, NSWSC, 20/2/80 Sutherland v. Stopes [1925] AC 47 Tiggell v. Pheeney (1951) 82 CLR 497 Warne v. Chadwell (1819) 2 Stark. 457, 171 ER 704 Waterhouse v. Hickie (1995) Aust Tort Reports 81-347 Waterhouse v. Station 2GB Pty. Ltd. (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Whelan v. John Fairfax Pty. Ltd. (2002) 56 NSWLR 89 John Fairfax Publications Pty. Limited - 1st appellant PARTIES : David Lessr - 2nd appellant Alan Bedford Jones - respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40055/03 ; 40056/03 COUNSEL : Mr. S. Rares SC with Mr. K. Smark for appellants Mr. T.D. Blackburn SC with Miss K. Richardson for respondents SOLICITORS : Freehills, Sydney for appellants Blake Dawson Waldron, Sydney for respondents