AKTAS & 1 ORS v WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED [2007] NSWSC 1261

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : AKTAS & 1 ORS v WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED [2007] NSWSC 1261

HEARING DATE(S) : 23 April-2 May 2007; 30 July-3 August 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 7 November 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Fullerton J

DECISION : 1. Verdict for the defendant in the defamation action brought by the first plaintiff.; 2. Verdict for the defendant in the defamation action brought by the second plaintiff.; 3. Verdict for the second plaintiff in the action for breach of contract brought by the second plaintiff.; 4. Damages for breach of contract are awarded in the amount of $84,500 plus interest.

CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION - Cheques dishonoured by bank - Refer to drawer - Defences - Common Law defence of qualified privilege - Imputations - Matter complained of - Damages - Reputation - Business reputation - Hurt to feelings - Causation - Failure to mitigate - Breach of contract

Cheques Act 1986 (Cth) Civil Liability Act 2002 LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974 Local Court (Civil Claims) Act 1970 Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 1941

Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Aktas & Anor v Westpac Banking Corporation [2004] NSWSC 218 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Ballin v Bank of Australasia (1895) 16 NSWLR 15 Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon (1993) 111 ALR 289 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Limited (2004) 218 CLR 366 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995-96) 185 CLR 183 Browne v Bank of Australasia [1881] 2 NSWLR 325 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (1993) 178 CLR 44 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Limited (1991) 174 CLR 64 Coyne v Citizen Finance Limited (1990-91) 172 CLR 211 Davidson v Barclays Bank Ltd [1940] 1 All ER 316 Foaminol Laboratories Ltd v British Artid Plastics Ltd [1941] 2 All ER 393 Greek Herald Pty Ltd v Nikolopoulos and Others (2002) 54 NSWLR 165 Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 9 Exch 341 Harvey v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 255 Hebditch v MacIIwaine [1894] 2 QB 54 Herbert Clayton and Jack Waller Ltd v Oliver [1930] AC 209 Howe and McColough v Lees (1910) 11 CLR 361 Hughes v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 504 Hunt v Great Northern Railway Company [1891] 2 QB 189 Jamoo v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 126 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v O'Shane [2005] NSWCA 164 Justin v Associated Newspapers Limited (1966) 86 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 117 CASES CITED : Kpohraror v Woolwich Building Society [1996] 4 All ER 119 Levy v Union Bank of Australia Ltd (1896) 21 VLR 738 Lloyds Bank v Rogers (unreported, 20 December 1996, English Court of Appeal) March v E & MH Stramare Pty Limited and Another (1990-91) 171 CLR 506 M'Nickle v Bank of New South Wales [1881] 2 LR (NSW) 7 Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (No 2) (1991) 23 NSWLR 374 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Perkins (1998) 45 NSWLR 340 Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Limited v Parsons (2001) 208 CLR 388 Pyke v The Hibernian Bank Limited [1950] IR 195 Raafbye Corporation Pty Ltd & Ors v Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (unreported, 21 October 1994) Roberts and Another v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1 Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Exch 850 at 855 Rose v Boxing New South Wales Inc and Anor [2007] NSWSC 20 Sattin v Nationwide News Pty Limited (1996) 39 NSWLR 32 Sims v Wran [1984] 1 NSWLR 317 Skalkos and Anor v Joseph Assaf and Anor [2002] NSWCA 14 Speight v Gosnay (1891) 60 LJQB 231 Stephens v West Australian Newspapers Ltd (1994) 182 CLR 211 Sullivan v Moody and Others (2001) 207 CLR 562 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181 Toomey v Mirror Newpapers Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 173 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Limited (1965-66) 117 CLR 118 Vacik Distributors Pty Limited & Anor v Australian Broadcasting Corporation & Anor No. 8 [2000] NSWSC 732 Watts v Rake (1960) 108 CLR 158 Wilson v United Counties Bank Ltd [1920] AC 102