TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Pahuja [2019] NSWCA 166

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Pahuja [2019] NSWCA 166 Hearing dates: 7 March 2019 Date of orders: 05 July 2019 Decision date: 05 July 2019 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Payne JA at [82]; Simpson AJA at [91] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal from the judgment of McCallum J given on 23 October 2018.

(2) Set aside orders (1)-(4) made by McCallum J on 29 June 2018.

(3) Order that there be a new trial of the matter.

(4) Direct that the costs of the first trial be determined in the course of the new trial.

(5) Order that the respondent pay the appellants' costs in this Court.

(6) Grant the respondent a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW). Catchwords: DEFAMATION — defences — substantial truth —Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 25 — whether trial judge erred in withdrawing defence of substantial truth — whether sufficient evidence to support a finding of substantial truth — relevance of implausible denials of plaintiff

DEFAMATION — defences — substantial truth — contextual truth — justification of some imputations only — relevance of imputations found to be substantially true — discussion of Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Kermode (2011) 81 NSWLR 157; [2011] NSWCA 174 Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 1912 (NSW), s 7 Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), ss 6, 25, 26 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 33 Cases Cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Hellicar (2012) 247 CLR 345; [2012] HCA 17 Born Brands Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (2014) 88 NSWLR 421; [2014] NSWCA 369 Chel v Fairfax Media Publications (No 6) [2017] NSWSC 230 Edmunds v Edmunds & Ayscough [1935] VLR 177 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 139; [1993] HCA 63 Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd v Kazal (2018) 97 NSWLR 547; [2018] NSWCA 77 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Kermode (2011) 81 NSWLR 157; [2011] NSWCA 174 Hobbs v C T Tinling & Co Ltd [1929] 2 KB 1 Howden v "Truth" and "Sportsman" Ltd (No 2) (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 287 Howden v Truth & Sportsman Limited (1937) 58 CLR 416; [1937] HCA 74. Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Mizikovsky v Queensland Television Ltd [2014] 1 Qd R 197; [2013] QCA 68 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Weatherup [2018] 1 Qd R 19; [2017] QCA 70 Roberts v Bass (2012) 212 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 57 Scruby v The Queen (1952) 55 WALR 1 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573; [1990] HCA 56 Steinberg v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1975) 134 CLR 640; [1975] HCA 63 Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon [2005] HCA 57; 79 ALJR 1816 Texts Cited: Gatley on Libel and Slander (12th ed, 2013, Sweet & Maxwell)JD Heydon, "Can Lies Corroborate?" (1973) 89 LQR 552 JD Heydon, Cross on Evidence (10th Aust ed, 2015, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (Second Appellant) Ninemsn Pty Ltd (known as Nine Digital Pty Ltd) Third Appellant) Jesse Grayson (Fourth Appellant)