Mallik v McGeown & Anor [2008] NSWCA 230

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Mallik v McGeown & Anor [2008] NSWCA 230 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 1 August 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 26 September 2008

JUDGMENT OF: McColl JA at 1; Campbell JA at 128; Bell JA at 129

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: DEFAMATION – trial – whether jury determination that imputation the plaintiff was demented was not defamatory was one no reasonable jury could reach – whether jury determination that imputations not conveyed by publication was one no reasonable jury could reach – Defamation Act 1974 s 7A(3) - APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL – misdirection by trial judge – whether primary judge misdirected jury on the test for determining whether an imputation is defamatory – whether alleged misdirection led to a substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Pt 51.53 - APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL – non-direction by trial judge – whether substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice sufficient to warrant new trial order where trial judge did not direct jury on case not raised by party – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Pt 51.53 - APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL – whether primary judge's directions sufficient to cure submissions by respondents' counsel – Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Pt 51.53 - LEGAL PRACTITIONERS – duty to the court – misdirection as ground of appeal – duty of counsel to specify at trial part of summing-up complained of and redirections sought. (D)

Defamation Act 1974 LEGISLATION CITED: Supreme Court Act 1970 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Andrews v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 225 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Reading [2004] NSWCA 411 Beran v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 107 Boyd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 449 Bright v Sampson and Duncan Enterprises Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 346 Broome v Agar (1928) 138 LT 698 Burchett v Kane [1980] 2 NSWLR 266(n) Burston v Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board [1948] HCA 36; (1948) 78 CLR 143 Cairns v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 708 Calin v Greater Union Organisation Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 23; (1991) 173 CLR 33 Capital & Counties Bank Ltd v George Henty & Sons (1882) 7 App Cas 741 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Mohammed [2008] NSWCA 21 Eggins v Brooms Head Bowling and Recreational Club Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 521. Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 52; (2005) 79 ALJR 1716 Gardener v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2007] NSWCA 10 Gardiner v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1942) 42 SR (NSW) 171 Grobbelaar v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2002] UKHL 40; [2002] 4 All ER 732 CASES CITED: Harvey v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 255 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Gacic [2007] HCA 28; (2007) 230 CLR 291 John Fairfax Publications Pty v Rivkin [2003] HCA 50; (2003) 77 ALJR 1657 Jones v Skelton [1963] SR (NSW) 644; [1963] 3 All ER 952 Justin v Associated Newspapers Ltd (1966) 86 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 17 Kelly v Daily Telegraph Newspaper Co (1897) 18 LR (NSW) 358 Lutwyche v Jiweni Pty Ltd (Court of Appeal, 30 July 1998, unreported, BC9803438) Mallik v McGeown [2007] NSWSC 438 Mastronardi v State of New South Wales [2007] NSWCA 54 Morawski v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1988) 14 NSWLR 374 Morgan v Lingen (1863) 8 LT 800 R v Hines (1991) 24 NSWLR 737 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Chesterton [2008] NSWCA 66; (2008) Aust Torts Reports 81-946 Reader's Digest Services Pty Limited v Lamb [1982] HCA 4; (1982) 150 CLR 500 Singleton v Ffrench (1986) 5 NSWLR 425 Tory v Megna [2007] NSWCA 13 Uren v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd (1965) 66 SR (NSW) 271 Weiss v The Queen [2005] HCA 81; (2005) 224 CLR 300 Youssoupoff v MGM Pictures Ltd (1934) 50 TLR 581