Sakr v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2015] NSWDC 25

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sakr v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2015] NSWDC 25 Hearing dates: 12 February 2015 Decision date: 12 February 2015 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Strike out imputation 4(a) with leave to replead. (2) Imputations 4(b) and 4(c) will go to the jury. (3) Strike out imputation 4(d) with leave to replead. (4) Strike out particulars of aggravation 6(d). (5) Strike out particulars of aggravation 6(e) with leave to replead. (6) Note the plaintiff's call on the notice to produce is withdrawn and that the defendant has requested the plaintiff to retain the documents set out in paragraphs 1 to 6 of the defendant's letter dated 27 November 2014. (7) The plaintiff's amended statement of claim is to be filed and served in 7 days. (8) Stand the matter over to Thursday 26 February 2015 at 2:00pm before Gibson DCJ. (9) Costs are to be defendant's costs in the cause. Catchwords: TORT - defamation - imputations - form and capacity - whether particulars of aggravated compensatory damages may extend beyond failure to apologise to include manner of conduct of interactive website - particulars should reflect changes to technology and the Internet - particulars permitted - early use of notices to produce and interim requests for preservation of material Cases Cited: Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Brookshire Brothers Ltd v Aldridge 2014 W L 2994435 (Tex) (3 July , 2014) Clark v Ainsworth (1996) 40 NSWLR 463 Corby v Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 227 Dow Jones & Co v Gutnik (2001) 2010 CLR 575 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 1716 Harvey v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 255 Hepburn v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 682 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Blake; David Syme v Blake (2001) 53 NSWLR 541 Lighthouse Forward Planning Pty Ltd & Anor v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd & Ors [2014] QSC 217 Mahommed v Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 213 Palavi v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd & Anor (2012) 84 NSWLR 523 Palavi v Radio 2UE Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 264 Younan v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 335 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Plaintiff: Reme Sakr Defendant: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABN 52 429 278 345) Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr T Molomby SC Defendant: Mr M Lewis