Kim Anne Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1928

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Kim Anne Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1928 Hearing dates: 4-7, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29 November 2013; 2 December 2013, 12 December 2013 Decision date: 19 December 2013 Before: Nicholas AJ Decision: (i) Award for the plaintiff against the first defendant for the publication on 21 May 2008 in the sum of $240,000. (ii) Award for the plaintiff against the defendants for the publication on 1 October 2009 in the sum of $40,000. Catchwords: Defamation - assessment of damages - whether aggravated damages available - failure to apologise - falsity of imputations - persistence in defences of truth - defendants' conduct of the trial Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd NSD 1368/2008 Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Limited [2009] FCA 1113 Attrill v Christie [2007] NSWSC 1386 Bickel v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1981] 2 NSWLR 474 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Coyne v Citizen Finance Ltd [1991] HCA 10; (1991) 172 CLR 211 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 David Syme & Co Ltd v Mather [1977] VR 516 Haertsch v Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 182 Ley v Hamilton (1935) 153 LT 384 Palmer, Bruyn & Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons [2001] HCA 69; (2001) 208 CLR 388 Rigby v Associated Newspapers Limited [1969] 1 NSWR 729 Ryan v Premachandran [2009] NSWSC 1186 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118 Waterhouse v Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kim Anne Ahmed (Plaintiff) Harbour Radio Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Ray Hadley (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: C Evatt/ R Rasmussen (Plaintiff) ATS Dawson/ A Rao (Defendants) Solicitors: Turner Freeman (Plaintiff) Banki Haddock Fiora Solicitors (Defendants) File Number(s): 2009/297870