Haddon v Forsyth [2011] NSWSC 123

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Haddon v Forsyth [2011] NSWSC 123 Hearing dates: 22 March 2010; 23 March 2010; 24 March 2010; 25 March 2010; 26 March 2010; 29 March 2010; 30 March 2010; 31 March 2010; 1 April 2010; 6 April 2010; 7 April 2010; 8 April 2010; 9 April 2010; 21 April 2010; 23 April 2010 Decision date: 08 March 2011 Before: Simpson J Decision: 1. Verdict for the defendants. 2. The plaintiff pay the defendants' costs. Catchwords: DEFAMATION - trial by judge alone on all issues - publication of emails - imputations of sexual harassment and conduct warranting complaints of unwanted sexual advances - limited number of recipients - each recipient had knowledge and a close association with events concerned in publication DEFAMATION - defences - substantial truth - meaning of "sexual harassment" - whether conduct properly characterised as sexual harassment - whether conduct warranted complaints of unwanted sexual advances - contextual truth - s 26 Defamation Act 2005 - pleading back - imputations pleaded on behalf of plaintiff significantly more serious DEFAMATION - defence of honest opinion - s 31 Defamation Act 2005 - defence fails - clear statement of facts - not a matter of public interest DEFAMATION - common law qualified privilege - statements made in pursuance of duty or interest - proper identification of subject matter - approach to determining extent of interest - incidental recipients - reciprocity - "pressing need" test not applied - s 30 Defamation Act 2005 - reasonableness of conduct - plea of malice - whether privileged occasion used for improper purpose DEFAMATION - publication - email - where recipients of publication are also co-authors - electronic communication - whether co-authors can be recipients for the purpose of defamation law DAMAGES - evidence of hurt and distress - damage to reputation - publication within limited circle WORDS & PHRASES - "sexual harassment" - ordinary meaning Legislation Cited: Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) Defamation Act 1974 Defamation Act 2005 Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 5; 218 CLR 366 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1996] HCA 47; 185 CLR 183 Bennette v Cohen [2009] NSWCA 60 Cooke v Plauen Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] FMCA 91 Farquhar v Bottom [1980] 2 NSWLR 380 Fricke v Whyburn [2003] NSWADT 10 Hall v A & A Sheiban Pty Ltd (1989) 20 FCR 217 Kermode v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 852 Lloyd v David Syme and Co Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 728 London Artists Ltd v Littler [1968] EWCACiv 3; [1969] 2 QB 375 Megna v Marshall [2010] NSWSC 686 Poniatowska v Hickinbotham [2009] FCA 680 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Parker (1992) 29 NSWLR 448 Reader's Digest Services Pty Ltd v Lamb [1982] HCA 4; 150 CLR 500 Singleton v Ffrench (1986) 5 NSWLR 425 Te Papa v Woolworths Ltd trading as Safeway (Anti Discrimination) [2006] VCAT 1222 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181; 149 ER 1044 Texts Cited: Gatley on Libel and Slander, Sweet & Maxwell, 11th ed Macquarie Dictionary Oxford English Dictionary The New Shorter Oxford Dictionary Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bruce Haddon (Plaintiff) The Right Reverend Robert Forsyth (First defendant) The Reverend Dominic Steele (Second defendant) Evan Batten (Third defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Wheelhouse SC/R Potter (Plaintiff) K P Smark SC/S T Chrysanthou (Defendants) Solicitors: DLA Phillips Fox (Plaintiff) HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (Defendants) File Number(s): 2009/297442