MOIT v. BRISTOW [2005] NSWCA 322

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: MOIT v. BRISTOW [2005] NSWCA 322

HEARING DATE(S): 22/03/2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 19 September 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; McColl JA at 2; Campbell AJA at 130

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs

CATCHWORDS: DEFAMATION - Justification - whether finding that imputation of dishonesty not substantially true was erroneous - held - no - Comment - whether finding that imputation of dishonesty was statement of fact not comment was erroneous - held - no - Common law qualified privilege - whether finding matter complained of not published on occasion of qualified privilege erroneous - held - no - s 13 Defamation Act - whether rejection of defence that matter complained of was published in circumstances where plaintiff was unlikely to suffer harm was erroneous - held - no - DAMAGES - s 46A Defamation Act - whether damages excessive - held - no (D)

LEGISLATION CITED: Defamation Act 1974

Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Andreyevich v Kosovich (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 357 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 5; (2004) 78 ALJR 346 Bonette v Woolworths Ltd (1937) 37 SR (NSW) 142 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1993] HCA 31; (1993) 178 CLR 44 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission [1992] HCA 41; (1993) 177 CLR 472 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Gardiner v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1942) 42 SR (NSW) 171 Goldsbrough v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 524 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v O'Shane [2005] NSWCA 164; (2005) Aust Torts Reports 81-789 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v O'Shane (No 2) [2005] NSWCA 291 Jones v Sutton [2004] NSWCA 439; (2004) 61 NSWLR 614 CASES CITED: Kemsley v Foot [1952] AC 345 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Perkins (1998) 45 NSWLR 340 O'Shaughnessy v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1970] HCA 52; (1970) 125 CLR 166 Padmore v Lawrence (1840) 11 Ad & El 380; (1840) 113 ER 460 Petritsis v Hellenic Herald Pty Ltd [1978] 2 NSWLR 174 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 52; (2003) 216 CLR 327 Stephens v West Australian Newspapers Ltd [1994] HCA 45; (1994) 182 CLR 211 Telegraph Newspaper Co Ltd v Bedford [1934] HCA 15; (1934) 50 CLR 632 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181; (1834) 149 ER 1044 Books Odgers on Libel and Slander (6th ed) Gatley on Libel and Slander (10th ed)