Hyndes v Nationwide News Pty Ltd; Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Hyndes [2012] NSWCA 349

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hyndes v Nationwide News Pty Ltd; Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Hyndes [2012] NSWCA 349 Hearing dates: 5 September 2012 Decision date: 01 November 2012 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Basten JA at [12]; Tobias AJA at [74] Decision: (1) Dismiss the appeal. (2) Order that the appellant pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. (3) Refuse the application by Nationwide News Pty Ltd for leave to appeal. (4) Order that the applicant pay Dr Hynde's costs of the application. [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: DEFAMATION - appeal from jury verdict - jury satisfied of the substantial truth of the imputations - whether verdict unreasonable or not open on the evidence - discussion of Hocking v Bell [1945] HCA 16; 71 CLR 430

COSTS - defamation - application for indemnity costs following failure to accept reasonable offer - interaction with Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) - whether offers reasonable - whether failure to accept unreasonable - whether exercise of discretionary power - Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 40; Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98; Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 42.1, 42.15 and 42.15A Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 25, 40 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 102 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 42.1, 42.14, 42.15, 42.15A; Pt 26 Cases Cited: David v Abdishou [2012] NSWCA 109 Davis v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 946 Hocking v Bell [1945] HCA 16; 71 CLR 430 Hocking v Bell (1947) 75 CLR 125 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin [2003] HCA 50; 77 ALJR 1657 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Gacic [2007] HCA 28; 230 CLR 291 Category: Principal judgment Parties: In the Appeal: Matthew Jonathon Hyndes (Appellant) Nationwide News Pty Ltd (Respondent)