Redeemer Baptist School Ltd v Graeme Francis Glossop & 5 ors; Redeemer Baptist School Ltd v Fairfax Community Newspapers Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1201

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Redeemer Baptist School Ltd v Graeme Francis Glossop & 5 ors; Redeemer Baptist School Ltd v Fairfax Community Newspapers Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1201

HEARING DATE(S) : 13.12.05, 02.05.06, 03.05.06: final written submissions 15.09.06

JUDGMENT DATE : 16 November 2006

JUDGMENT OF : Nicholas J

DECISION : Para 101

CATCHWORDS : STATUTES – statutory construction – section 8A Defamation Act 1974 – meaning of "employs" and "persons" in subs (3)(a) – whether "persons" means only "employees at common law" – whether plaintiff has cause of action for defamation. CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT – whether plaintiff and its staff intended a contractual relationship – whether plaintiff employed its staff under contracts of employment at common law

Defamation Act 2005, s 9, s 46 LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974, s 8A Defamation Amendment Act 2002, Sch 1, s 8A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 28.2

Air Great Lakes Pty Ltd v K S Easter Holdings Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 Babsari Pty Ltd v Douglas Chee Yin Wong & Ors [1999] QSC 326 Boylan Nominees Pty Limited v Sweeney [2005] NSWCA 8 Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358 CIC Insurance Limited v Bankstown Football Club Limited (1997) 187 CLR 384 Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358 Dietrich v Dare (1980) 54 ALJR 388 CASES CITED : Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community (2002) 209 CLR 95 Fraser v Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (2001) 198 DLR (4th) 569 Hollis v Vabu Pry Ltd (2001) 207 CLR 21 Network Ten Pty Ltd v TCN Channel Nine (2004) 218 CLR 273 Placer Development Limited v The Commonwealth (1969) 121 CLR 353 Ready Mixed Concrete (South East) Limited v Minister of Pensions and National Insurance [1968] 2 QB 497 Teen Ranch Pty Ltd v Brown (1995) 87 IR 308 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191