Nicholas Polias v Tobin Ryall [2014] NSWSC 1692

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Nicholas Polias v Tobin Ryall [2014] NSWSC 1692 Hearing dates: 07 October 2014 - 10 October 2014 Decision date: 28 November 2014 Before: Rothman J Decision: (1)Judgment for the plaintiff; (2)The first defendant shall pay the plaintiff damages in the sum of $125,000; (3)The second defendant shall pay the plaintiff damages in the sum of $130,000; (4)The third defendant shall pay the plaintiff damages in the sum of $50,000; (5)The fourth defendant shall pay the plaintiff damages in the sum of $35,000; (6)The parties have liberty to address on interest and costs on a date to be set; (7)The plaintiff to provide a Short Minutes of Order to reflect judgment in accordance with these reasons within 14 days of the date hereof. Catchwords: DEFAMATION - allegation of theft - only issue was substantial truth - factual determination - no issue of principle Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 Cases Cited: Ali v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 183 Amalgamated Television Services v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Associated Newspaper v Dingle [1964] AC 371 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1993] HCA 31; (1993) 178 CLR 44 Chappel v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (NSWCA 14 June 1984, unreported) Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 David v Abdishou [2012] NSWCA 109 Dow Jones & Co Inc v Gutnick [2002] HCA 56; (2002) 210 CLR 575 Haddon v Forsyth [2011] NSWSC 123 Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 90; (2014) 86 NSWLR 96 Ley v Hamilton (1935) 153 LT 384 Palmer Bruyn & Parker Pty Ltd v Parsons [2001] HCA 69; (2001) 208 CLR 388 Phillips v Robab [2014] NSWSC 1520 Rastogi v Nolan [2010] NSWSC 735 Reader's Digest Services Pty Ltd v Lamb [1982] HCA 4; (1982) 150 CLR 500 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Nicholas Polias (Plaintiff) Tobin Ryall (First Defendant) Andy Hun Wei Lee (Second Defendant) Sandy Jan (Third Defendant) Rhys Gould (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S. Chrysanthou/with B. Regener (Plaintiff) M. Rollinson (First, Second, Third and Fourth Defendants) Solicitors: Kalantzis Lawyers (Plaintiff) Phoenix Attorneys (First Defendant) BPH Legal (Second and Third Defendants) File Number(s): 2013/161335 Publication restriction: None