Murray v Raynor [2019] NSWCA 274

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Murray v Raynor [2019] NSWCA 274 Hearing dates: 8 October 2019 Date of orders: 13 November 2019 Decision date: 13 November 2019 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Payne JA at [2]; Emmett AJA at [99] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Set aside the orders of Gibson DCJ made on 17 May 2019 and in lieu thereof order: (a) Further amended statement of claim dismissed; (b) Plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. (3) Respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: DEFAMATION – defences – common law qualified privilege – where privileged occasion not identified – relevance of privileged occasion – malice not established – necessary factual findings not supported by evidence Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Alexander v Clegg [2004] 3 NZLR 586 Assaf v Skalkos [2000] NSWSC 418 Attrill v Christie [2007] NSWSC 1386 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 366; [2004] HCA 5 Bauer Media v Wilson (2018) 56 VR 674; [2018] VSCA 154 Born Brands Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd (No 6) [2013] NSWSC 1651 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Carolan v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (No 6) [2016] NSWSC 1091 Chel v Fairfax Media Publications (No 7) [2017] NSWSC 996 Cush v Dillon (2011) 243 CLR 298; [2011] HCA 30 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited v Gayle [2019] NSWCA 172 Fraser v Holmes [2009] NSWCA 36 Hanrahan v Ainsworth (1990) 22 NSWLR 73 Harbour Radio Pty Ltd v Ahmed [2015] NSWCA 290 Harbour Radio Pty Ltd v Trad (2012) 247 CLR 31; [2012] HCA 44 Heytesbury Holdings Pty Ltd v City of Subiaco (1998) 19 WAR 440; [1998] WASC 183 Kim Anne Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Limited [2013] NSWSC 1928 Kuru v State of New South Wales (2008) 236 CLR 1; [2008] HCA 26 LVMH Watch & Jewellery Australia Pty Ltd v Michael Lassanah & Ors [2011] NSWCA 370 Marshall v Megna [2013] NSWCA 30 Megna v Marshall [2010] NSWSC 686 Penton v Calwell (1945) 70 CLR 219; [1945] HCA 51 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 57 Skalkos v Assaf (2002) Aust Torts Reports 81-644; [2002] NSWCA 14 Tabbaa v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 69 Tabbaa v Nine Network Pty Ltd (No 10) [2018] NSWSC 468 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181 at 193; 149 ER 1044 Trad v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 750 Visscher v Maritime Union of Australia (No 6) (2014) 98 NSWLR 764; [2014] NSWSC 350 Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491; [1988] HCA 12 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Patricia Murray (Appellant) Gary Raynor (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B McClintock SC, S Chrysanthou, P Hart (Appellant) R Potter, A Munro (Respondent)