Hatfield v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 737

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hatfield v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 737 Hearing dates: 7 September 2010 Decision date: 21 July 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Simpson J Decision: Notice of Motion dismissed with costs. Catchwords: DEFAMATION - claim by plaintiff for special damages - costs incurred prior to publication - duty to mitigate damage - application by defendants under Rule 14.28 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 to strike out claim - collateral proceedings challenging separate costs orders - reasonableness of anticipatory actions - defendants' Notice of Motion dismissed with costs Legislation Cited: Supreme Court Rules 1970 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Anderson v Bowles [1951] HCA 61; 84 CLR 310 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Comalco Ltd (1986) 12 FCR 510 Australian Federation of Islamic Council Inc v Westpac Banking Corporation (1988) 17 NSWLR 623 Avenhouse v Hornsby Shire Council (1998) 44 NSWLR 1 British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, Limited v Underground Electric Railways Company of London Limited [1912] AC 673 Coshott v Woollahra Municipal Council [2008] NSWCA 176 Galaxy Communications Pty Ltd v Paramount Films of Australia Inc (Unreported, NSWCoA, 27 March 1998) General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69; 112 CLR 125 Hanrahan v Ainsworth (1985) 1 NSWLR 370 Hatfield v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 69 Hatfield v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 161 Lloyds & Scottish Finance Ltd v Modern Cars & Caravan (Kingston) Ltd [1966] 1 QB 764 Queanbeyan Leagues Club Ltd v Poldune Pty Ltd & Ors [2000] NSWSC 1100 Russell v The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church For The Archdiocese of Sydney [2008] NSWCA 217 Transocean Capital Pty Ltd v AFSIG Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 806; 202 FLR 270 Texts Cited: McGregor on Damages, Sweet & Maxwell, 14th ed (1980) McGregor on Damages, Sweet & Maxwell / Thomson Reuters, 18th ed (2009) Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Wendy Gaye Hatfield (Plaintiff) TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Screentime Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: K P Smark SC/S T Chrysanthou (Plaintiff) B R McClintock SC/M R Richardson (Defendants) Solicitors: Kalantzis Lawyers (Plaintiff) Johnson Winter & Slattery (Defendants) File Number(s): 2010/142076