Hague v Cordiner [2019] NSWDC 603

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hague v Cordiner [2019] NSWDC 603 Hearing dates: 17 October 2019 Date of orders: 17 October 2019 Decision date: 25 October 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Noting the only basis upon which imputations 6(a) to 6(c) is challenged is the use of the words "captured" and "reasonably", these imputations are reasonably capable of being conveyed. (2) Noting the basis of the challenge to imputations 6(d) to 6(k) is on a Chase 1/Chase 2 basis: (a) Each of imputations 6(d) to 6(k) is reasonably capable of being conveyed, but (b) The Chase 2 meaning is to be pleaded as fall-back to the Chase 1 meaning. (3) Plaintiff's amended statement of claim in 7 days. (4) Defendant's defence or an application for security for costs by 13 November 2019. (5) Matter listed for further directions only in the Defamation List on Thursday 14 November 2019. (6) Defendant pay plaintiff's costs in relation to the imputations argument of today. Catchwords: TORT – defamation – form and capacity of imputations – whether imputations of guilt or of suspicion – no issue of principle Legislation Cited: Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 28.2 Cases Cited: Berezovsky v Forbes [2001] EWCA Civ 1251 Bolton v Stoltenberg [2018] NSWSC 1518 Chase v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2002] EWCA Civ 1772 ; [2003] EMLR 11 Corby v Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 227 Cronau v Nelson (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1905 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Duffy v Google Inc (No 1) [2015] SASC 170 El-Mouelhy v QSociety of Australia Inc (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 1069 Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd (2005) 79 ALJR 1716 Hockey v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (2015) 237 FCR 33 Jenman v McIntyre [2013] NSWSC 1100 Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd (1964) AC 234 McDonald v Dods [2017] VSCA 129 Mirror Newspapers Ltd v Harrison (1982) 56 ALJR 808; 42 ALR 487 Moran v Schwartz Publishing Pty Ltd [2014] WASC 334 Purcell v Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 245 Rayney v State of Western Australia (No 9) [2017] WASC 367 Sands v State of South Australia (2015) 122 SASR 195 Sergi v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1983] 2 NSWLR 669 Sternberg v Pritchard Englefield (a firm) [2005] EWCA 288 Wagner v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2018] QSC 201 Texts Cited: R Parkes QC, Professor A Mullis, G Busuttil, A Speker, A Scott, C Strong, Gatley On Libel and Slander (12th ed, 2013, Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Plaintiff: Nathan Hague Defendant: Sarah Louise Cordiner Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: Mr T Senior Defendants: Mr B Goldsmith