Alawadi v Widad Kamel Farhan trading as The Australian Arabic Panorama Newspaper [2015] NSWDC 279

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Alawadi v Widad Kamel Farhan trading as The Australian Arabic Panorama Newspaper [2015] NSWDC 279 Hearing dates: 19 November 2015 Date of orders: 30 November 2015 Decision date: 30 November 2015 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) The plaintiff's claims for defamation for publication of the first and second matters complained of on 12 June 2014 are struck out and dismissed pursuant to s 14B Limitation Act 1969 (NSW). (2) The plaintiff's claim for defamation for publication of the third matter complained of on 26 June 2014 is struck out and dismissed pursuant to s 61 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) and r 12.7 UCPR. (3) A self-executing order that the plaintiff is to serve particulars of extrinsic facts and identification for each of the five remaining matters complained of (published 10 July 2014, 2 October 2014, 6 November 2014, 5 March 2015 and 21 May 2015) by 4pm Wednesday 9 December 2015, such particulars to be provided with verification. (4) The defendant's application for summary dismissal of the five remaining causes of action is stood over for further hearing after compliance with the steps set out above, and listed for directions on Thursday 10 December 2015 at 9am. (5) Costs reserved with liberty to apply. Catchwords: TORT - defamation - plaintiff commences proceedings for defamation for eight publications, two of which were published outside the limitation period - proceedings commenced on the last day prior to the limitation period for the third publication - plaintiff not named in any of the publications - correspondence from defendant's solicitors complains of missing schedules for extrinsic facts and inadequate particularisation of identification - plaintiff fails to avail himself of two orders granting leave to amend - defendant brings application pursuant to s 61 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) and r 12.7 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) - whether particulars of identification and extrinsic facts sufficient - relevant principles for determining delay in defamation proceedings - whether different principles for determination of delay apply where a plaintiff commences at the very end of the limitation period - whether the plaintiff was a "reluctant gladiator" (Bi v Mourad [2010] NSWCA 17 - whether proceedings should be struck out or the plaintiff directed to provide the particulars in question - first and second matters complained of struck out pursuant to s 14B Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) - third matter complained of (commenced on last day prior to limitation period) struck out pursuant to s 61 and r 12.7 - self-executing order for the plaintiff to provide the extrinsic facts and particulars of identification with verification for remaining five publications Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56-60, 61 and 67 Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), s 14B Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 12.7 and 15.19 Cases Cited: Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 676 Bi v Mourad [2010] NSWCA 17 Bidner v Queensland [2000] QCA 368 Campbell v Regional Publishers Pty Ltd (Supreme Court of NSW, Levine J, 30 October 1998) Creative Resins International Ltd v Glassam Europe Ltd [2006] All ER (D) 178 Dank v Cronulla Sutherland District Rugby League Football Club Ltd [2014] NSWCA 288 Dijakovic v Perez [2015] NSWCA 174 Dow Jones & Co Inc v Gutnick (2002) 210 CLR 575 Emmerton v University of Sydney (1970) 2 NSWR 633 Facer v Wolfe (2013) 17 DCLR 391 Fei v Director-General, Department of Commerce (State of NSW) (No 2) [2009] NSWADT 109 Ghosh v Ninemsn Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 334 Hoser v Hartcher [1999] NSWSC 17 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott (2002) 54 NSWLR 207 Jenman v McIntyre [2013] NSWSC 1100 John Fairfax Group Pty Ltd v Farley (Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, Gallop, Burchett, Gummow JJ, 2 May 1994, unreported) Kang v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2015] NSWSC 893 Lazarus v Deutsche Lufthansa AG (1985) 1 NSWLR 188 Tanious v South Eastern Sydney Local Health District [2015] NSWCA 356 Templar v Watt [2014] NSWSC 937 Tugrul v Tarrants Financial Consultants Pty Limited ACN 086 674 179 (No 5) [2014] NSWSC 437 Whiteoak v State of New South Wales [2012] NSWADT 135 Younan v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 335 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Plaintiff: Alaa Alawadi Defendant: Widad Kamel Farhan trading as The Australian Arabic Panorama Newspaper Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr R Walton Defendant: Ms C Amato