RESTIFA v PALLOTTA [2009] NSWSC 958

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : RESTIFA v PALLOTTA [2009] NSWSC 958

HEARING DATE(S) : 28-30 April 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 16 September 2009

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : McCallum J

(1) I order that there be a verdict and judgment for the first plaintiff in the sum of $40,000. DECISION : (2) I order that there be a verdict and judgment for the second plaintiff in the sum of $40,000. (3) I order the defendant to pay the plaintiffs' costs of the proceedings.

CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION – matters complained of published in internet newspaper in the Italian language– plaintiffs were candidates in election to Italian parliament – whether matters complained of identified plaintiffs – whether publications defamatory - DEFAMATION – defences – common law defence of qualified privilege – whether occasion of qualified privilege – whether recipients had interest in receiving information published – whether defendant actuated by improper motive - DEFAMATION – defences – statutory defence of qualified privilege under s 30 Defamation Act 2005 – whether publication of matters complained of reasonable in the circumstances - DEFAMATION – damages

LEGISLATION CITED : Defamation Act 2005

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Ali v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 183 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 5; (2004) 218 CLR 366 Bennette v Cohen [2009] NSWCA 60 CASES CITED : Davis v Nationwide News [2008] NSWSC 693 Dow Jones & Co Inc v Gutnick [2002] HCA 56; (2002) 210 CLR 575 Howe & McColough v Lees [1910] HCA 67; (1910) 11 CLR 361 Lewis v Daily Telegraph [1964] AC 234 Mirror Newspapers v Harrison [1982] HCA 50; (1982) 149 CLR 293