Eoin Michael O'Neill v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] NSWSC 1415

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Eoin Michael O'Neill v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] NSWSC 1415 Hearing dates: 14.11.11 Decision date: 25 November 2011 Before: Nicholas J Decision: Par 22 Catchwords: DEFAMATION - pleadings - whether Lange qualified privilege defence should be struck out - objections to contextual imputations on form and capacity Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde [2000] HCA 41; (2000) 201 CLR 552 Clines v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd (1966) 67 SR(NSW) 364 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Hitchcock [2007] NSWCA 364; (2007) 70 NSWLR 484 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1997] HCA 25; (1997) 189 CLR 520 Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1990) 20 NSWLR 511 Peek v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd [2006] SASC 63; (2006) 94 SASR 196 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Eoin Michael O'Neill - plaintiff Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd - first defendant News Digital Media Pty Ltd - second defendant Tuck Thompson - third defendant Representation: Counsel: S Littlemore QC - plaintiff T D Blackburn SC - defendants Solicitors: Goldsmiths Lawyers - plaintiff Thynne & Macartney - defendant File Number(s): 10/260431 Publication restriction: N/A

Judgment 1The plaintiff's application is for orders under Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Pt 14.28 striking out from the defence to the second further amended statement of claim the Lange defence pleaded in par 7, and the contextual imputations pleaded in pars 8(a) and (b).