Craftsman Homes Aust P/L & Ors v TCN Channel Nine P/L & Ors [2003] NSWSC 124

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Craftsman Homes Aust P/L & Ors v TCN Channel Nine P/L & Ors [2003] NSWSC 124 25/02/03 HEARING DATE(S) : 26/02/03 27/02/03 28/02/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 March 2003

JURISDICTION: Common Law Division Defamation List JUDGMENT OF : Kirby J DECISION : Direct verdict against the first plaintiff in relation to both publications.

CATCHWORDS : Defamation - s7A hearing - Directed verdict - whether evidence capable of identifying first plaintiff (franchisor) - capacity to give rise to imputations. LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act, 1974 Craftsman Homes Aust P/L & Ors v Nine Network Aust P/L & Ors [2002] NSWSC 555 Ferrier v Jones & Anor [2003] NSWSC 39 CASES CITED : Morgan v Odhams Press Ltd [1971] 1 WLR 1239 Knupffer v London Express Newspapers Ltd [1944] AC 116 Abraham v The Advocate Co Limited [1946] 2 WWR 181 Amalgamated Television Services P/L v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Craftsman Homes Australia Pty Limited (1st Pl) Ilvariy Pty Limited t/as Craftsman Homes Northern Rivers & PARTIES : Craftsman Homes South-West Sydney (2nd Pl) Frederick Robert Cox (3rd Pl) TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited (1st Def) Mike Munro (2nd Def) Ben Fordham (3rd Def) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20085/02 COUNSEL : J J J Garnsey QC/B E Kinsella (Pls) B R McClintock SC/M F Richardson (Defs) SOLICITORS : Walters, sols (Pls) Gilbert & Tobin (Defs)