Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Pedavoli [2015] NSWCA 237

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Pedavoli [2015] NSWCA 237 Hearing dates: 8 July 2015 Decision date: 20 August 2015 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Simpson JA at [39]; Sackville AJA at [87] Decision: 1. Appeal dismissed. 2. The appellants pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: DEFAMATION – identification of plaintiff – articles published in major newspaper in print and online – imputations that female teacher had engaged in sexual misconduct with Year 12 boys at the school – plaintiff not named in matter complained of but identifiable by the inclusion of incorrect details – consideration of the principles in Baltinos – whether plaintiff can rely on extrinsic identifying facts acquired by readers after the matter complained of had been published to identify teacher – whether defendant implicitly invited readers to visit school website to ascertain identity of teacher

DEFAMATION – damages – assessment of damages under sections 34 and 35 of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) – principles applicable in the assessment of aggravated damages – whether cross-examination unjustifiable or improper – reliance on post-publication evidence as to reputation – scope of publication Legislation Cited: Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW), s 7 Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 18, 34, 35; Pt 3; Pt 4

New South Government Gazette No 57 (27 June 2014) Cases Cited: Abbott v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (1987) Aust Torts Reports 80-138 Ali v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 183 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Attrill v Christie [2007] NSWSC 1386 Ballantyne v Television New Zealand Ltd [1992] 3 NZLR 455 Baltinos v Foreign Language Publications Pty Ltd (1986) 6 NSWLR 85 Born Brands Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (No 6) [2013] NSWSC 1651 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd [1993] HCA 31; 178 CLR 44 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Mohammed [2010] NSWCA 335; 278 ALR 232 Chase v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2002] EWHC 2209 (QB) Coyne v Citizen Finance Ltd [1991] HCA 10; 172 CLR 211 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 Cross v Denley (1952) 69 WN (NSW) 137 Dow Jones & Co Inc v Gutnick [2002] HCA 56; 210 CLR 575 Grappelli v Derek Block (Holdings) Ltd [1981] 1 WLR 822 Harbour Radio Pty Ltd v Tingle [2001] NSWCA 194 Hayward v Thompson [1982] 1 QB 47 Lloyd v David Syme & Co Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 728; [1986] AC 350 Pedavoli v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1674 Praed v Graham (1889) 24 QBD 53 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 52; (2003) 216 CLR 327 Simons Proprietary Ltd v Riddell [1941] NZLR 913 Steele v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1974] 2 NSWLR 348 Strasberg v Westfield Ltd [2002] NSWSC 689 Tom and Bill Waterhouse Pty Ltd v Racing New South Wales [2008] NSWSC 1013; 72 NSWLR 577 Triggell v Pheeney [1951] HCA 23; 82 CLR 497 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1966] HCA 40; 117 CLR 118 Visscher v The Maritime Union of Australia (No 6) [2014] NSWSC 350 Ware v Associated Newspapers Ltd (1969) 90 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 180 Texts Cited: Gatley on Libel and Slander (12th ed, 2013, Sweet and Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Anne Davies (Second Appellant) Melinda Pedavoli (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Blackburn SC/R A Jedrzejczyk (Appellants) B McClintock SC/ M Richardson (Respondent)