Beran v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 107

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Beran v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 107 HEARING DATE(S) : 6 May 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 April 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Beazley JA at 2; McColl JA at 3 DECISION : 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. Subject to order 3, appellant to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. 3. Respondent to pay the costs of the Summons for Leave to Appeal.

CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - appeal from jury decision - whether jury's finding that imputations not conveyed was one which no reasonable jury could reach - whether jury's finding that imputation not defamatory was one which no reasonable jury could reach - interlocutory determination that two articles so interlinked they should be pleaded as one publication - whether leave required to appeal against interlocutory determination. (D) Defamation Act 1974 (NSW) s 7A, s 7A(3), s 9 LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 101(2)(e) Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Pt 15 r 26, Pt 31 r 2, Pt 67 r 12(d), r 12A Berry v British Transport Commission [1961] 1 QB 149 Bottomley v Hurst & Blackett Ltd (1928) 44 TLR 451 Broome v Agar (1928) 138 LT 698 Burrows v Knightley & Nationwide News Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 651 Cairns v John Fairfax and Sons Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 708 Cinevest Ltd v Yirandi Productions Ltd [2001] NSWCA 68; (2001) Aust Torts Reports 81-610 David Syme & Co Ltd v Lloyd [1984] 3 NSWLR 346 Gerlach v Clifton Bricks Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 22; (2002) 209 CLR 478 Gordon v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited [1980] 2 NSWLR 410 Hall v Nominal Defendant (1966) 117 CLR 423 Hardy v Harris (1986) Aust Torts Reports 80-003, BC8601168 CASES CITED : John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited v Rivkin [2003] HCA 50; (2003) 201 ALR 77; (2003) 77 ALJR 1657; (2003) Aust Torts Reports 81-711 Kelly v Daily Telegraph Newspaper Company (1897) 18 LR (NSW) 358 Liftronic Pty Limited v Unver [2001] HCA 24; (2001) 75 ALJR 867 Love v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 112 Phelps v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2001] NSWSC 130 Piercy v Young (1880) 15 Ch D 475 Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 Reader's Digest Services Pty Limited v Lamb (1982) 150 CLR 500 Rivkin v John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited [2002] NSWCA 87 Ron Hodgson (Trading) Pty Limited v Belvedere Motors (Hurstville) Pty Limited [1971] 1 NSWLR 472 Salter Rex & Co v Ghosh [1971] 2 QB 597 Southern Cross Exploration NL v Fire and All Risks Insurance Company Ltd (No 2) (1990) 21 NSWLR 200 Tsvangirai v Special Broadcasting Service [2002] NSWSC 532 PARTIES : Roy Beran (Appellant) John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40875/02; 40950/02 COUNSEL : B.R. McClintock SC/P.M. Strickland (Appellant) J.R. Sackar QC/T.M. Thawley (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Appellant) Freehills (Respondent)