Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse v The Age Company Ltd & Ors; Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd & Anor; Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse v Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1349

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse v The Age Company Ltd & Ors; Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd & Anor; Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse v Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1349 Hearing dates: 05.11.12 Decision date: 08 November 2012 Before: Nicholas J Decision: Par 16 Catchwords: DEFAMATION - jury - application for jury of 12 - test applicable - relevant considerations - where plaintiff a prominent person and issues for trial include allegations of serious criminality and dishonesty Legislation Cited: Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Defamation Act 2005 Fair Trading Act 1987 Jury Act 1977 Cases Cited: Bowler v Pogonoski [1966] 1 NSWR 589 Hawke v Tamworth Newspaper Co Ltd [1983] 1 NSWLR 699 Lang v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd [1967] 1 NSWR 157 Ra v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 1308; (2009) 182 FCR 148 Robbie Waterhouse v The Age Company Ltd & Ors; Robbie Waterhouse v Fairfax Media Pty Ltd & Anor; Robbie Waterhouse v Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] NSWSC 159 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: 10/416092 Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse - plaintiff The Age Company Ltd - first defendant Andrew Rule - second defendant John Silvester - third defendant 10/416107 Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse - plaintiff Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd - first defendant Rick Feneley - second defendant 10/416124 Robert (Robbie) Waterhouse - plaintiff Fairfax Digital Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd - defendant Representation: Counsel: C A Evatt/R Rasmussen - plaintiff M A Polden - defendants Solicitors: Stacks Goudkamp - plaintiff Johnson Winter & Slattery - defendants File Number(s): 10/416092; 10/416107; 10/416124