Aktas v Westpac Banking Corporation Limited [2009] NSWCA 9

Appeal Outcome: Special leave granted by the High Court, 11 December 2009 s48/2009 [2009] HCATrans 326 [2010] HCATrans 43 Appeal allowed, 4 August 2010 [2010] HCA 25

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Aktas v Westpac Banking Corporation Limited [2009] NSWCA 9 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 26-27 November 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 9 February 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; Basten JA at 2; McClellan CJ at CL at 3

1.The appeal by Mr Aktas dismissed with costs. DECISION: 2.The appeal by Homewise upheld in part. The award of damages for contract in the court below quashed and an award of damages in the sum of $117,000 substituted. 3.Otherwise the appeal by Homewise dismissed. Homewise ordered to pay 60 per cent of Westpac's costs of the appeal.

CATCHWORDS: DEFAMATION - defences - privilege - qualified privilege - privileged occasion - reciprocity of duty and interest - connection between defamatory imputation and privileged occasion - defamatory imputation concerning dishonoured cheques - DAMAGES - assessment of damages in actions for defamation – assessment of damages in actions for breach of contract

Defamation Act 1974 LEGISLATION CITED: Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 1941 (repealed) Local Courts (Civil Claims) Act 1970 (repealed) Cheques Act 1986 (Cth)

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Comalco Limited (1986) 12 FCR 510 Ballin v Bank of Australasia (1895) 16 LR (NSW) 15 Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon [1993] HCA 4; (1993) 176 CLR 344 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Limited [2004] HCA 5; (2004) 218 CLR 366 Beach v Freeson [1972] 1 QB 14 Browne v Bank of Australasia (1881) 2 LR (NSW) 325 Bryanston Finance Ltd v De Vries [1975] 1 QB 703 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Limited [1993] HCA 31; (1993) 178 CLR 44 Cassell & Co Limited v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers Limited [1998] HCA 37; (1997-1998) 193 CLR 519 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33; (1986) 162 CLR 1 Coxhead v Richards (1846) 2 CB 569; Spring v Guardian Assurance plc [1995] 2 AC 296 Coyne v Citizen Finance Limited [1991] HCA 10; (1991) 172 CLR 211 Davidson v Barclays Bank Limited [1940] 1 All ER 316 Davis v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2008] NSWSC 946 Hall v Bank of New South Wales (1889) 10 LR (NSW) 292 Horrocks v Lowe [1975] AC 135 Howe & McColough v Lees [1910] HCA 67; (1910) 11 CLR 361 Hunt v Great Northern Railway Company [1891] 2 QB 189 Hussey v Bank of Australasia (1889) 15 VLR 9 CASES CITED: Jamoo v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2004] NSWSC 126 John Fairfax & Sons Limited v Kelly (1987) 8 NSWLR 131 Kine v Sewell (1838) 3 M & W 297; (1883) 150 ER 1157 Laughton v Bishop of Sodor and Man (1872) LR 4 PC 495; (1871) 17 ER 534 Levy v Union Bank of Australia Limited (1896) 21 VLR 738 Lewis v Daily Telegraph Newspaper Co Limited [1964] AC 234 Lindholdt v Hyer [2008] NSWCA 264 Lloyds Bank PLC v Rogers (English Court of Appeal, 20 December 1996, unreported) Loveday v Sun Newspapers Ltd [1938] HCA 28; (1938) 59 CLR 503 Macintosh v Dun (1908) 6 CLR 303; [1908] AC 390 McNickle v Bank of New South Wales (1881) 2 LR (NSW) 7 New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Perkins (1998) 45 NSWLR 340 Norton v Hoare (No 1) [1931] HCA 51; (1913) 17 CLR 310 Pyke v The Hibernian Bank Limited [1950] IR 195. Reynolds v Times Newspapers Limited [2001] 2 AC 127 Roberts v Bass [2002] HCA 57; (2002) 212 CLR 1 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2003] HCA 52; (2003) 216 CLR 327 Stuart v Bell [1891] 2 QB 341 Todd v Hawkins (1837) 8 C & P 88; (1837) 173 ER 411 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181; (1834) 149 ER 1044 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Limited [1966] HCA 40; (1966) 117 CLR 118 Vilo v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1206 Waller v Loch (1881) 7 QBD 619 Wilson v United Counties Bank Limited [1920] AC 102