Packer v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 940

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Packer v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 940

HEARING DATE(S) : 20 March 2006

JUDGMENT DATE : 14 September 2006

JUDGMENT OF : Simpson J

DECISION : Proceedings numbered 20324 of 2005 - 1. The plaintiff has leave to amend imputation 4(a); 2. imputation 4(c) is struck out; 3. liberty to replead; Proceedings numbered 20328 of 2005 - 1. Imputations (b) and (d) are struck out.

CATCHWORDS : Proceedings 20324 of 2005 - defamation - defendant's objections to imputations - newspaper publication - internet publication - capacity of words in their natural and ordinary meaning to convey imputations - true innuendo - imputations defective in form - capacity of imputations to defame - application for order to strike out statement of claim - imputation (a) - (i) capacity - accusation of unlawful conduct in competition between rival media organisations - (ii) objections as to form - ambiguity - upheld - context does not clarify ambiguity - split infinitive - imputation (b) – (i) capacity - (ii) form - use of "and/or" - precision of pleading imputations depends upon clarity with which matter expressed - imputation (c) – capacity - imputation (d) – tone of matter complained of - Proceedings 20328 of 2005 - defamation - newspaper item - defendants' objection - capacity and form of imputations - inference available to ordinary reasonable reader - imputation of criminal conduct

LEGISLATION CITED : SCR Part 67 Rule 12A Trade Practices Act 1974

CASES CITED : Cowan v John Fairfax Group Pty Ltd, unreported, Levine J, 20 August 1993 Mirror Newspapers Ltd v Harrison [1982] HCA 50; 149 CLR 293

James Douglas Packer - Plaintiff PARTIES : John Fairfax Pubkications Pty Ltd - 1st Defendant Anne Lampe - 2nd Defendant (matter numbered 20328 of 2005)