Mallik v McGeown [2007] NSWSC 1414

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Mallik v McGeown [2007] NSWSC 1414

HEARING DATE(S) : 15.11.07 (final submissions 26.11.07, 30.11.07)

JUDGMENT DATE : 10 December 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Nicholas J

DECISION : (1) That par 4 of the amended reply to the second further amended defence of the third defendant be struck out (2) That the plaintiff pay the third defendant's costs of the notice of motion

CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION - pleading - defamation action by solicitor/advocate - advocate's immunity from suit - whether immunity similar to protection afforded under parliamentary privilege - whether immunity precludes defendant from maintaining, and the court from hearing, defences which question advocate's in court conduct - parliamentary privilege - advocate's immunity and parliamentary privilege distinguished - principles considered - whether plaintiff's reply should be struck out under r 14.28

Bill of Rights 1688 (UK) LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 2005 Imperial Acts Application Act 1969 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

Cabassi v Vila [1940] HCA 41; (1940) 64 CLR 130 Clyne v NSW Bar Association [1960] HCA 40; (1960) 104 CLR 186 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; (2005) 223 CLR 1 Egan v Willis [1998] HCA 71; (1998) 195 CLR 424 General Steel Industries Inc. v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69; (1964) 112 CLR 125 CASES CITED : Giannarelli v Wraith [1988] HCA 52; (1988) 165 CLR 543 Jamieson v R [1993] HCA 48; (1993) 177 CLR 574 Prebble v Television New Zealand Ltd (1995) 1 AC 321 Rann v Olsen [2000] SASC 83; (2000) 172 ALR 395 Royal Aquarium and Summer and Winter Gardens Society Ltd v Parkinson (1892) 1 QB 431 Sankey v Whitlam [1978] HCA 43; (1978) 142 CLR 1