Toben v Milne [2014] NSWCA 200

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Toben v Milne [2014] NSWCA 200 Hearing dates: 3 June 2014 Decision date: 26 June 2014 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Meagher JA at [34]; Ward JA at [1] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal granted; 2. Appeal dismissed; 3. Leave granted to the appellant to replead imputation (a); 4. Each party to pay his and her own costs of the summons for leave to appeal and the appeal. [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 - Defamation Act 2005 - pleadings - imputations - Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 , r 14.30 - whether imputations differ in substance - imputation too vague and imprecise - imputation bad in form Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005, ss 8, 25, 26 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 14.30 Cases Cited: Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Bishop v Latimer (1861) 4 LT (NS) 775 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Griffith v Australian Broadcasting Corporation & Ors [2002] NSWSC 86 Harvey v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 255 Hepburn v TCN Channel 9 Pty Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 682 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Hitchcock [2007] NSWCA 364; 70 NSWLR 484 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin [2003] HCA 50; 201 ALR 77 Jones v Skelton [1963] 1 WLR 1362 Monte v Mirror Newspapers (1979) 2 NSWLR 663 Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Limited [1977] 2 NSWLR 749 Parker v Laws [2002] NSWSC 311 Singleton v Ffrench (1986) 5 NSWLR 425 Singleton v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (Supreme Court (NSW), Hunt J, 20 February 1980, unreported) Whelan v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1988) 12 NSWLR 148 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dr Fredrick Toben (Appellant) Senator Christine Milne (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Evatt; R Rasmussen (Appellant) T Blackburn SC; R Potter (Respondent) Solicitors: Carters Law Firm (Appellant) Fitzgerald & Browne (Tas) (Respondent) File Number(s): CA 2013/334740 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: Toben v Mathieson; Toben v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1530 Date of Decision: 2013-10-18 00:00:00 Before: McCallum J File Number(s): 2013/200128; 2013/200157