Higgins and Ors v Sinclair [2011] NSWSC 163

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Higgins and Ors v Sinclair [2011] NSWSC 163 Hearing dates: 31 January 2011, 1 February 2011, 2 February 2011, 3 February 2011, 4 February 2011, 7 February 2011, 8 February 2011 Decision date: 18 March 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Johnson J Decision: Each of the First and Second Plaintiffs to be awarded damages in the sum of $100,000.00 together with interest. The Plaintiffs are entitled to appropriate orders by way of injunctive and declaratory relief. Submissions to be made with respect to the form of injunctive relief and declaratory orders, and on the question of costs. Catchwords: DEFAMATION - misleading and deceptive conduct - publications on internet and by email - defamatory statements concerning individual Plaintiffs - defence of substantial truth - defence not established - assessment of damages for defamation - claim by corporate Plaintiff for relief under Fair Trading Act 1987 - whether representations misleading and deceptive - whether made in trade or commerce - whether injunctive and declaratory relief appropriate Legislation Cited: Fair Trading Act 1987 Defamation Act 2005 Evidence Act 1995 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Dow Jones & Co Inc v Gutnick [2002] HCA 56; 210 CLR 575 Gardener v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2007] NSWCA 10 Farquhar v Bottom [1980] 2 NSWLR 380 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Haddon v Forsyth [2011] NSWSC 123 Howden v Truth & Sportsman Limited [1937] HCA 74; 58 CLR 416 Sutherland v Stopes [1925] AC 47 Greek Herald Pty Limited v Nikolopoulos [2002] NSWCA 41; 54 NSWLR 165 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419 Palmer v Dolman [2005] NSWCA 361 Sydney South West Area Health Service v Stamoulis [2009] NSWCA 153 JMVB Enterprises Pty Limited v Camoflag Pty Limited [2005] FCA 1474; 67 IPR 18 Taco Co of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Limited (1982) 42 ALR 177 Hornsby Building Information Centre Pty Limited v Sydney Building Information Centre Limited [1978] HCA 11; 140 CLR 216 Butcher v Lachlan Elder Real Estate Pty Limited [2004] HCA 60; 218 CLR 592 Equity Access Pty Limited v Westpac Banking Corporation (1989) 16 IPR 431 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Limited v Puxu Pty Limited [1982] HCA 44; 149 CLR 191 Plimer v Roberts (1997) 80 FCR 303 Shahid v Australasian College of Dermatologists [2008] FCAFC 72; 168 FCR 46 Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Limited v Parsons [2001] HCA 69; 208 CLR 388 Huyn v Tang (District Court of New South Wales, 2003) Zarth v Williamson [2006] NSWCA 246 Trantum v McDowell [2007] NSWCA 138 SMEC Holdings Ltd v Boniface [2007] NSWSC 140 Martin v Bruce [2007] NSWDC 1497 Holmes v Fraser [2008] NSWSC 570 Fraser v Holmes [2009] NSWCA 36 PK v BV (No. 2) [2008] NSWDC 297 Webster v Coles Myer Limited; Thompson v Coles Myer Limited [2009] NSWDC 4 Ryan v Premachandran [2009] NSWSC 1186 Australian Broadcasting Commission v O'Neill [2006] HCA 46; 227 CLR 57 Hatfield v TCN Channel 9 and Ors [2010] NSWCA 69 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Limited [1993] HCA 31; 178 CLR 44 Texts Cited: Colin Bodkin, "Patent Law in Australia", Law Book Company, 2008 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Gordon Higgins (First Plaintiff) John Randall Sharp (Second Plaintiff) Power & Data Corporation Pty Limited (Third Plaintiff) John Ashton Sinclair (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr KP Smark SC; Ms S Chrysanthou (Plaintiffs) Mr JA Sinclair (Defendant in person) Solicitors: Doyle Watson Solicitors (Plaintiffs) Mr JA Sinclair (Defendant in person) File Number(s): 2009/297946