Robbie Waterhouse v The Age Company Ltd & Ors; Robbie Waterhouse v Fairfax Media Pty Ltd & Anor; Robbie Waterhouse v Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] NSWSC 159

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Robbie Waterhouse v The Age Company Ltd & Ors; Robbie Waterhouse v Fairfax Media Pty Ltd & Anor; Robbie Waterhouse v Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] NSWSC 159 Hearing dates: 07.02.11, 08.02.11, 09.02.11, 11.02.11. 07.03.11 Decision date: 17 March 2011 Before: Nicholas J Decision: Par 82 Catchwords: DEFAMATION - pleadings - imputations - questions of form and capacity - whether open to plead articles published on separate occasions as a composite DEFAMATION - parties - further proceedings against same defendants - whether proceedings in respect of same or like matter - application for dismissal under s 23 of Defamation Act 2005 - Internet publications - whether "matter" as defined in s 4 of Defamation Act incorporates mode of communication PROCEDURE - whether open to plaintiff to discontinue where proceedings impermissible under s 23 of Defamation Act - UCPR Pt 12.1 Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 Fair Trading Act 1987 Trade Practices Act 1975 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Burrows v Knightley (1987) 10 NSWLR 651 Carey v ABC [2010] NSWSC 709 Buckley v The Herald and Weekly Times Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2008] VSC 475 Dow Jones & Co Inc v Gutnick [2002] HCA 56; (2002) 210 CLR 575 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 52, (2005) 221 ALR 186 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin [2003] HCA 50; (2003) 77 ALJR 1657 Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd [1964] AC 234 Malcolm v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 254 Phelps v Nationwide News Pty Ltd & Anor [2001] NSWSC 130 The Buddhist Society to Western Australia Inc v Bristile & Anor [2000] WASCA 210 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: 10/416092 Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse - plaintiff The Age Company Ltd - first defendant Rick Feneley - second defendant Andrew Rule - third defendant John Silvester - fourth defendant 10/416107 Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse - plaintiff Fairfax Media Publications Ltd - first defendant Rick Feneley - second defendant 10/416124 Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse - plaintiff Fairfax Digital Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd - first defendant Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd - second defendant - second defendant Rick Feneley - third defendant Andrew Rule - fourth defendant John Silvester - fifth defendant Representation: Counsel: C A Evatt/ R Rasmussen - plaintiff T Blackburn SC/M A Polden - defendants Solicitors: Stacks/Goudkamp - plaintiff Johnson Winter & Slattery - defendants File Number(s): 10/416092; 10/416107; 10/416124