Millane & Ors v Nationwide News Pty Ltd t/as Cumberland Newspaper Group [2004] NSWSC 853

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Millane & Ors v Nationwide News Pty Ltd t/as Cumberland Newspaper Group [2004] NSWSC 853 HEARING DATE(S) : 31/08/04, 01/09/04, 02/09/04, 03/09/04, 06/09/04, 07/09/04, 08/09/04, 09/09/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 17 September 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Hoeben J at 1 DECISION : Judgment for the defendant. Plaintiffs to pay the defendant's costs of these proceedings.

CATCHWORDS : Defamation Act 1974 s15, 22, 34. Substantial truth - public interest - qualified privilege - comment by a stranger, nominal damages. LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974 Property Stock and Business Agents Act, 1941 Allsopp v Incorporated News Agencies Co Pty Limited (1975) 26 FLR 238 Austin v Mirror Newspapers Limited (1985) 3 NSWLR 354 @ 359 Barbaro v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 30 @ 40 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1996) 185 CLR 183 Chappell v TCN Channel 9 Pty Limited (1988) 14 NSWLR 153 Greek Herald Pty Limited v Nikolopoulos (2002) 54 NSWLR 165 @ 173 Green v Schneller [2000] NSWSC 548 Grundmann v Georgeson (Qld Court of Appeal, unreported, 18.6.1996) Hamilton v Whitehead (1988) 166 CLR 121 @ 127 CASES CITED : London Artists Limited v Littler (1969) 2 QB 375 Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons (No 2) (1991) 23 NSWLR 376 @ 387-8 Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Limited (1977) 2 NSWLR 749 NSW Aboriginal Land Council v Perkins (1998) 45 NSWLR 340 Nissho Iwai Australia Limited v Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (1989) 167 CLR 219 @ 229-30 Pervan v North Queensland Newspaper Co (1993) 178 CLR 309 South Hetton Coal Co Limited v North-Eastern News Association Limited (1894) 1 QB 133 Star Hotel Holdings Limited v Newcastle Newspapers Pty Limited & Anor [2001] NSWSC 53 @ [33]-[38] Sutherland v Stopes [1925] AC 47 @ 79 Wake v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (1973) 1 NSWLR 43 @ 47 Wright v Australian Broadcasting Commission (1977) 1 NSWLR 697 John Millane - First plaintiff Andrew Partridge - Second Plaintiff PARTIES : Mathew Partridge - Third Plaintiff Relocorp Pty Ltd t/as Cousins & Co - Fourth Plaintiff Nationwide News Pty Ltd t/as Cumberland Newspaper Group - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20213/02 Mr CA Evatt/Mr CJ Dibb - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Plaintiffs COUNSEL : Mr CJ Dibb - 4th Plaintiff Mr T Hale SC/Mr Henskens - Defendant SOLICITORS : Peter R Murphy & Co -1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Plaintiffs Cropper Parkhill - Defendant