Hunter v Hanson [2017] NSWCA 164

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hunter v Hanson [2017] NSWCA 164 Hearing dates: 30 June 2017 Date of orders: 30 June 2017 Decision date: 06 July 2017 Before: McColl JA at [1], Gleeson JA at [47] Decision: Application for leave to appeal and notice of motion dated 9 June 2017 dismissed with costs Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Court of Appeal — application for leave to appeal – where applicant seeks to conduct case on appeal on basis diametrically opposed to forensic course pursued at trial

DEFAMATION – defences – absolute privilege – Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 27, Sch 1, cl 27

DEFAMATION – defences – good faith – where at trial applicant admitted defamatory letters lacked bona fides and were false – Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW), s 96(2) – Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW), s 47

DEFAMATION – defences – triviality

DEFAMATION – remedies – compensatory damages – damage to reputation – defamatory publication to statutory authority responsible for plaintiff's registration as a doctor – where plaintiff obliged to disclose publications to professional association and insurer Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW) Health Practitioner Regulation Amendment Act 2010 (NSW) Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 660; [2005] HCA 46 Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (2015) 89 NSWLR 538; [2015] NSWCA 99 Hunter v Hanson [2014] NSWCA 263 Hunter v Hanson [2015] HCA Trans 16 Jones v Sutton (2004) 61 NSWLR 614; [2004] NSWCA 439 Lucire v Parmegiani [2012] NSWCA 86 Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 749 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Rajski v Carson (1988) 15 NSWLR 84 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 57 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 327; [2003] HCA 52 Sydney South West Area Health Service v MD [2009] NSWCA 343; (2009) 260 ALR 702 Szanto v Melville [2011] VSC 574 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40 Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598; [1993] HCA 57 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Scott Hunter (Applicant) Benjamin Alan Hanson (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Evatt and J Henness (Applicant) A T S Dawson SC and M Rabsch (Respondent)