Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 90

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 90 Hearing dates: 4 and 5 November 2013 Decision date: 31 March 2014 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [90]; Sackville AJA at [91] Decision: The appeal is 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: DEFAMATION - television programme concerning plaintiff's conduct towards his wife whilst she was suffering from terminal cancer - damages - whether award of damages manifestly inadequate - whether award outside range of what could reasonably be regarded as appropriate in circumstances of case - whether evidence in mitigation justified conclusion that plaintiff suffered little if any damage - relevance of contextual imputations not found to be true

DEFAMATION - relevance in assessing damages of objective assessment of consequences to plaintiff of publication - relevance of plaintiff's subjective response to publication

DEFAMATION - in assessing damages evidence properly before the Court on other issues may be taken into account in assessing damages - Pamplin v Express Newspapers [1988] 1 WLR 116 and other authorities considered

DEFAMATION - costs - whether trial judge erred in declining to award costs on indemnity basis - relevance of defendant's assessment of prospects of success in assessing costs - Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 40(2)(a) - relevance of plaintiff's conduct in proceedings and circumstance that award of damages slightly more than derisory in making differential costs order Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 26, 34, 40 Cases Cited: Abalos v Australian Postal Commission [1990] HCA 47; 171 CLR 167 Ali v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 183 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v McBride [2001] NSWCA 322; 53 NSWLR 430 Broome v Cassell [1972] AC 1027 Burstein v Times Newspapers Ltd [2001] 1 WLR 579 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1993] HCA 31; 178 CLR 44 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Mahommed [2010] NSWCA 335; 278 ALR 232 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 333; 162 CLR 1 Crampton v Nugawela [1996] NSWCA 128; 41 NSWLR 176 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins [2003] HCA 51; 215 CLR 317 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Kermode [2011] NSWCA 174; 81 NSWLR 157 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Grey v Australian Motorists and General Insurance Co Pty Limited [1976] 1 NSWLR 669 Grobbelaar v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2002] 1 WLR 3024 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Humphries v TWT Ltd [1993] ACTSC 24; 113 FLR 402 Humphries v TWT Ltd [1993] FCA 577; 120 ALR 693 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake [2001] NSWCA 434; 53 NSWLR 541 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Zunter [2006] NSWCA 227 Jones v Pollard [1997] EMLR 233 Monie v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2008] NSWCA 15 Pamplin v Express Newspapers Ltd [1988] 1 WLR 116 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 52; 216 CLR 327 SS Hontestroom v SS Sagaporack [1927] AC 37 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) [1999] HCA 3; 73 ALJR 306 Trad v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] NSWCA 477 Turner v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2006] 1 WLR 3469 Texts Cited: Gatley on Libel and Slander (11th ed 2008, Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Holt (Appellant) TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Ben Fordham (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K P Smark SC/S Chrysanthou (Appellant) B R McClintock SC/M F Richardson (Respondents) Solicitors: Fitzpatrick Solicitors (Appellant) Johnson Winter & Slattery (Respondents) File Number(s): CA 2012/236611 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 770 - 13 July 2012 Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 968 - 23 August 2012 Before: Adamson J File Number(s): SC 2010/114155