Cotter v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 503

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Cotter v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 503 HEARING DATE(S) : Monday 26 May 2003 - Tuesday 3 June 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 July 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Simpson J DECISION : Damages of $100,000 awarded to plaintiff

CATCHWORDS : defamation - justification defence - contextual truth defence - failure to comply with legal obligations - publication of imputations that further injure the reputation of the plaintiff - interstate defences - aggravated damages Defamation Act 1974, (NSW) s7A, s15, s16, s46, s46A Local Government Act 1919 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Local Government Act 1993, (NSW) s360, s373, s442, s443, s448, s449, s451, s457, Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s45, s140 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) s134 Allen v John Fairfax and Sons Ltd, unreported, 2 December 1988 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419, unreported, 24 December 2002 Andrews v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 225 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44 CASES CITED : Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Clark v Ainsworth (1996) 40 NSWLR 463 Jarratt v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 739; unreported, 7 September 2001 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake [2001] NSWCA 434; 53 NSWLR 451 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Polly Peck (Holdings) plc v Trelford [1986] 1 QB 1000 Triggell v Pheeney (1951) 82 CLR 497 PARTIES : Barry Cotter - Plaintiff John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20360/97 COUNSEL : T Molomby SC with R Rasmussen - Plaintiff TD Blackburn with ATS Dawson - Defendant SOLICITORS : Joseph G Capogreco & Associates - Plaintiff Freehills - Defendant