Dank v Whittaker (No 4) [2014] NSWSC 732

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Dank v Whittaker (No 4) [2014] NSWSC 732 Hearing dates: 5 December 2013, 9 April 2014 Decision date: 04 June 2014 Before: McCallum J Decision: Proceedings 2013/157114 consolidated with proceedings 2013/157118; proceedings 2013/170487 consolidated with 2013/170493; proceedings 2013/184586 consolidated with 2013/184595 Catchwords: DEFAMATION - multiple proceedings commenced by same plaintiff against different publishers of same allegedly defamatory matter - where purpose of duplication of proceedings to attract application of statutory cap on damages in each set of proceedings - whether an abuse of process - whether duplicate proceedings should be consolidated into one Legislation Cited: Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002 (ACT) Defamation Act 1974, s 9 Defamation Act 2005, ss 22 (4), 8, 23, 35, 38 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 28.5 Cases Cited: Buckley v The Herald & Weekly Times Pty Ltd (2009) 24 VR 129 Davis v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 693 Dow Jones v Gutnick (2002) 210 CLR 575 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Cummings; Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd v Cummings [2013] ACTCA 37 Habib v Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 231 Harris v 718932 Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 38; (2003) 56 NSWLR 276 Maple v David Syme & Co Ltd [1975] 1 NSWLR 97 McLean v David Syme & Co Ltd (1970) 72 SR (NSW) 513 Sea Culture International Pty Ltd v Scoles (1991) 32 FCR 275 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: 2013/157114 Stephen Dank (plaintiff) Paul Whittaker (first defendant) (proceedings discontinued as against second defendant) Dr Tricia Kavanagh (third defendant) Darren Kane (fourth defendant) Rebecca Wilson (fifth defendant) James Hooper (sixth defendant) Josh Massoud (seventh defendant)