Goyan v Motyka [2008] NSWCA 28

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Goyan v Motyka [2008] NSWCA 28 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 15 November 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 12 March 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Tobias JA at 2; Handley AJA at 119

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: Defamation – Defences – Qualified privilege – Common law – Reciprocity of duty or interest between publisher and recipient – Whether recipient is 'interested in' the information – Reciprocity of duty or interest within an ethnic community – Whether publication actuated by improper motive – Malice – Express malice – Whether qualified privilege destroyed by malice – Delay between events subject of defamation and defamatory publication – Damages – Single sum of damages assessed in respect of multiple publications – Whether damages were excessive

LEGISLATION CITED: Defamation Act 1974 ss 7A, 9, 13, 46 and 46A.

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Adam v Ward (1917) AC 309 Andreyevich v Kosovich and Publicity Press (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 357 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 366 Beach v Freeson [1972] 1 QB 14 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1996) 185 CLR 183 Bonette v Woolworths Ltd (1937) 37 SR (NSW) 142 Broome v Cassell & Co Ltd [1972] AC 1027 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44 CASES CITED: Howe and McColough v Lees (1910) 11 CLR 361 Horrocks v Lowe (1975) AC 135 Moit v Bristow [2005] NSWCA 322 Motyka v Gojan [2007] NSWSC 31 Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd [2001] 2 AC 127 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1 Skalkos v Assaf [2002] NSWCA 14; (2002) Aust Torts Reports 81-644 Stephens v Western Australian Newspapers Limited (1984) 182 CLR 211 Telegraph Newspaper Co Ltd v Bedford (1934) 50 CLR 632 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181; 149 ER 1044