Crespin v Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 24

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Crespin v Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 24 Hearing dates: 30 January 2015 Decision date: 30 January 2015 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Defendants' objection to imputations 5(b), 5(l), 7(b) and 7(l) on the basis of form ("callous person") dismissed; these imputations will go to the jury. (2) Imputations 5(d) ("conned") and 5(f) ("swindled"), and similarly 7(d) and 7(f), are to be pleaded as alternatives. (3) Imputations 5(g) and 7(g) are struck out with leave to replead. (4) Imputations 5(e) and 7(e) are struck out with leave to replead. (5) Imputations 5(h) and 7(h) are struck out with leave to replead by replacing "falsely" with "hypocritically". (6) Imputations 5(i) and 7(i) will go to the jury. (7) Imputations 5(j), 5(r), 7(j) and 7(r) will go to the jury (objections withdrawn). (8) Imputations 5(k) and 7(k) will go to the jury. (9) Require the plaintiffs in the redrafted statement of claim to include full particulars of the "multiple times" promotions for Today Tonight made between 7 and 12 November 2013. (10) Any claim for "actual or special damages" must be fully particularised in the amended statement of claim. (11) Amended Statement of Claim in 21 days. (12) Each party pay their or its own costs. (13) Matter stood over to Thursday 26 February 2015 at 2:00pm. Catchwords: TORT - defamation - pleading - form and capacity of imputations - no issue of principle Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 14.28 and 28.2 Cases Cited: Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 20 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Bass v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 343 Bateman v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 1380 Berezovsky v Forbes [2001] EWCA Civ 1251 Coleman v John Fairfax Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 564 Corby v Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 227 Dent v Macquarie Radio Network Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 186 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 1716 Gibson v Nationwide News Pty Limited [2007] NSWCA 284 Habib v Radio 2UE Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 231 Habib v Radio 2UE Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 244 Habib v Radio 2UE Pty Ltd (No 4) [2012] NSWDC 12 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake; David Syme v Blake (2001) 53 NSWLR 541 Laundy v Bourne (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Levine J, 17 April 1998) Lighthouse Forward Planning Pty Ltd v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd [2014] QSC 217 Mahommed v Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 213 McGrane v Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd [2012] QSC 133 Miller v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2012] EWHC 3721 (QB) Polias v Ryall [2013] NSWSC 1267 Scott v Jones & Anor [2002] NSWSC 210 Singleton v Ffrench & Ors (1986) 5 NSWLR 425 Visscher v Maritime Union of Australia (No 6) [2014] NSWSC 350 Waller v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 611 Younan v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 335 Young v Munro (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Levine J, 12 May 1995) Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: First Plaintiff: Liz Crespin Second Plaintiff: Rob Franklin First Defendant: Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd Second Defendant: Glenn Connley Representation: Counsel: Plaintiffs: Mr R Rasmussen Defendants: Mr R Jedrzejczyk