Palavi v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd & Anor [2012] NSWCA 182

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Palavi v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd & Anor [2012] NSWCA 182 Hearing dates: 13 April 2012 Decision date: 20 June 2012 Before: Beazley JA at [1]; Basten JA at [60]; Tobias AJA at [104] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: PROCEDURE - Defamation proceedings - Destruction of mobile phones prior to commencement of proceedings - Admitted facts before primary judge disclosed evidence material to pleaded imputations had been destroyed - Whether admitted facts supported the inference that appellant intended to pervert the course of justice - Whether primary judge erred in striking out appellant's statement of claim as an abuse of process - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules, r 13.4(1)(c)

DEFAMATION - Destruction of evidence prior to commencement of proceedings - Claim for aggravated damages - No defence filed - Notice to strike out claim - Whether truth of imputations in issue on claim Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Evidence Act 1995 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Allen v Tobias [1958] HCA 13; 98 CLR 367 Arrow Nominees Inc v Blackledge [2000] 2 BCLC 167 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2006] HCA 27; 226 CLR 256 Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (1951) 217 ALR 1 Bridges v Pelly [2001] NSWCA 31 Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; 60 CLR 336 British American Tobacco Australia Services Ltd v Cowell (representing the estate of McCabe (deceased)) [2002] VSCA 197; 7 VR 524 Clark v State of New South Wales [2006] NSWSC 673; 66 NSWLR 640 Clark v State of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 139 DPP v Aydogan & Anor [2006] NSWSC 558 Fuji Xerox Australia Pty Ltd v Lee [2003] QSC 303 Goldsmith v Sperrings Ltd [1977] 1 WLR 478 Holloway v McFeeters [1956] HCA 25; 94 CLR 470 Katsilis v Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (1977) 18 ALR 181; 52 ALJR 189 Logicrose Ltd v Southend United Football Club Ltd [1988] 1 WLR 1256 Luxton v Vines [1952] HCA 19; 85 CLR 352 Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 510 Palavi v Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd [2010] NSWDC 332 Palavi v Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 264 R v Rogerson [1992] HCA 25; 174 CLR 268 Spautz v Williams [1983] 2 NSWLR 506 The Ophelia [1916] 2 AC 206 Texts Cited: Wigmore on Evidence, 3rd ed (1940) vol 2 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Charmyne Palavi (Appellant) Queensland Newspapers Pty Limited (First Respondent) News Digital Media Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C A Evatt; R Rasmussen (Appellant) B R McClintock SC; M Richardson (Respondents) Solicitors: D C Balog & Associates (Appellant) Thynne & Macartney (Brisbane) (Respondents) File Number(s): 2011/144245 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Citation: Charmyne Palavi v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd & Anor [2011] NSWSC 274 Date of Decision: 2011-04-12 00:00:00 Before: Nicholas J File Number(s): 10/375273