Plymouth Brethren (Exclusive Brethren) Christian Church v The Age Company Ltd; Plymouth Brethren (Exclusive Brethren) Christian Church v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 95

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Plymouth Brethren (Exclusive Brethren) Christian Church v The Age Company Ltd; Plymouth Brethren (Exclusive Brethren) Christian Church v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 95 Hearing dates: 20 March 2018 Decision date: 07 May 2018 Before: Beazley P at [1]; McColl JA at [3]; Basten JA at [113] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed.

(2) Judgment of the Court below set aside.

(3) Order the respondents to pay the appellant's costs, including the costs of the separate trial before McCallum J.

(4) Remit the matter to the Common Law Division for case management. Catchwords: APPEAL — separate determination of questions —judgment entered following determination of separate question — whether leave to appeal required — Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 101(2)(e), 103

CIVIL PROCEDURE — separate questions — where appropriate — whether sufficient evidence before Court to determine separate question — whether separate determination of question should have been ordered — Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 28.2

DEFAMATION — identification — indirect identification — article alleged misconduct by elders of church — plaintiff corporation trading under name of church — whether matter complained of capable of identifying corporation Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56; Pt 6 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 150 Defamation Act 1958 (NSW), s 5 Defamation Act 1974 (NSW). s 7A Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 8, 9 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 101, 103; Pt 28