Bennette v Cohen [2007] NSWSC 739

Reported Decision : (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-897

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Bennette v Cohen [2007] NSWSC 739

HEARING DATE(S) : 14 May 2007 to 1 June 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 10 July 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Harrison J at 1

DECISION : Verdict for the defendant. Plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs.

CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION – Defamation Act 1974 - words spoken at public meeting by parliamentarian about local developer – imputations that plaintiff was a thug and a bully and manipulated the system by bringing proceedings to stifle public protest – defences – substantial truth - common law qualified privilege – malice – comment of defendant - comments or statements of fact - proper material for comment - public interest - unlikelihood of harm - damages

LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 1974 - ss 7A, 13, 15, 16, 30(3)(a), 32, 32(1), 32(2), 55(2)

Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletter) Pty Limited (2004) 218 CLR 366 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1996) 185 CLR 183 Cole v Operative Plasterers' Federation (1927) 28 SR (NSW) 62 Green v Schneller [2000] NSWSC 548 Habib v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2007] NSWCA 91 Hanrahan v Ainsworth (1990) 22 NSWLR 73 Horrocks v Lowe [1975] AC 135 Hunt v Great Northern Railway Co [1891] 2 QB 189 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v O'Shane [2005] NSWCA 164 Jones v Sutton (2004) 61 NSWLR 614 CASES CITED : Markisic v Today-Denes [2005] NSWSC 1276 Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1990) 20 NSWLR 511 Ohlstein v E & T Lloyd [2006] NSWCA 226 Perkins v New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (Badgery-Parker J, 15 August 1997, unreported) Praed v Graham (1889) 24 QBD 53 Pullman v Hill and Co Ltd [1891] 1 QB 524 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1 Sims v Wran [1984] 1 NSWLR 317 Sutherland v Stopes [1925] AC 47 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181 Uren v John Fairfax and Sons Pty Ltd (1967) 117 CLR 118 Watts v Times Newspapers Ltd [1997] QB 650