Benhayon v Rockett (No 4) [2018] NSWSC 1312

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Benhayon v Rockett (No 4) [2018] NSWSC 1312 Hearing dates: 10, 17 August 2018 Decision date: 27 August 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: McCallum J Decision: Plaintiff's application to dispense with jury refused; subpoenas addressed to Riley Martin, Heath Gibney, Matthew Sutherland and Stephen Clark set aside; application by Universal College to produce redacted documents refused Catchwords: DEFAMATION – mode of trial – defendant electing for trial by jury – plaintiff seeking to dispense with jury on grounds of complexity and multiplicity of issues and volume of material to be considered – importance of role of juries in actions for defamation Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 62(3) Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 21 Defamation Act 2005 (Qld), s 21 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 31.23, Schedule 7 Cases Cited: Benhayon v Rockett (No 2) [2017] NSWSC 808 Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Fierravanti-Wells (2011) 81 NSWLR 315; [2011] NSWCA 246 Combined Excavations and Supplies v Bowis [2000] NSWCA 298 Lowery v Insurance Australia Ltd (2015) 90 NSWLR 320; [2015] NSWCA 303 Ra v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2009) 182 FCR 148; [2009] FCA 1308 Wagner v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2017] QSC 177 Wagner v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2017] QSC 222 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Serge Isaac Benhayon (plaintiff) Esther Mary Rockett (defendant) Representation: Counsel: K Smark SC with N Olson (plaintiff) L Goodchild and S O'Connell (defendant)