FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Herron v HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] FCA 1687
File numbers: NSD 1620 of 2017 NSD 1621 of 2017 Judgment of:
JAGOT J
Date of judgment: 25 November 2020 Catchwords:
DEFAMATION
– alleged defamations arising from chapter in second respondent’s book published by first respondent – where imputations relate to applicants’ conduct in respect of the administration of deep sleep therapy at Chelmsford Private Hospital – where imputations based on findings of Royal Commission – whether defences of justification, qualified privilege, contextual truth and fair report/fair summary apply – defences applied to conveyed imputations – applications dismissed Legislation:
Defamation Act 2005
(NSW) ss 8, 25, 26, 28, 28(1)(b), 28(4), 29, 29(1), 29(4), 30, 30(1)(a), 30(1)(b), 30(1)(c), 30(3), 30(3)(a), 30(3)(b), 30(3)(c), 30(3)(d), 30(3)(e), 30(3)(f), 30(3)(g), 30(3)(h), 30(30)(i), 30(3)(j), 30(4)
Evidence Act 1995
(Cth) s 135
Private Hospitals Act 1908
(NSW)
Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1973
(NSW) s 57(4) Cases cited:
Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden
(1998) 43 NSWLR 158
Austin v Mirror Newspapers Ltd
(1985) 3 NSWLR 354
Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Chau Chak Wing
[2019] FCAFC 125; (2019) 271 FCR 632
Australian Broadcasting Corporation v McBride
[2001] NSWCA 322; (2001) 53 NSWLR 430
Boyd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd
[1980] 2 NSWLR 449
Burchett v Kane
[1980] 2 NSWLR 266
Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers Ltd
[1998] HCA 37; (1998) 193 CLR 519
Channel Seven Sydney Pty Ltd v Mahommed
[2010] NSWCA 335; (2010) 278 ALR 232
Herron v HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] FCA 1687
Chau v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd
[2019] FCA 185
Cook v Alexander
[1974] 1 QB 279
DIF III – Global Co-Investment Fund LP v Babcock & Brown International Pty Limited
[2019] NSWSC 527
Director of Public Prosecutions v Gill
[1993] NSWCA 84
Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital
(1989) 17 NSWLR 553
Fairfax Digital Australia & New Zealand Pty Ltd v Kazal
[2018] NSWCA 77; (2018) 97 NSWLR 547
Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Chau
[2020] FCAFC 48
Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Kermode
[2011] NSWCA 174; (2011) 81 NSWLR 157
Farquhar v Bottom
[1980] 2 NSWLR 380
Favell v Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd
[2005] HCA 52; (2005) 79 ALJR 1716
Feldman v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
[2020] NSWSC 26
Gill v Walton
(1991) 25 NSWLR 190
Goody v Odhams Press Ltd
[1967] 1 QB 333
Greek Herald Pty Ltd v Nikolopoulos
[2002] NSWCA 41; (2002) 54 NSWLR 165
Holt v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd
[2014] NSWCA 90; (2014) 86 NSWLR 96
Hart v Herron
(1984) Aust Torts Reports 80-201
Herron v McGregor
(1986) 6 NSWLR 246
Hockey v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd
[2015] FCA 652; (2015) 237 FCR 33
Horrocks v Lowe
[1975] AC 135
John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Zunter
[2006] NSWCA 227
Junius v Messenger Press
[1999] SASC 99
Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation
[1997] HCA 25; (1997) 189 CLR 520
Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd
[1964] AC 234 (HL)
Macquarie Radio Network Pty Ltd v Dent
[2007] NSWCA 261
McIntyre v R
[2009] NSWCCA 305; (2009) 198 A Crim R 549
Mirror Newspapers Ltd v Harrison
[1982] HCA 50; (1982) 149 CLR 293
Mirror Newspapers v World Hosts
[1979] HCA 3; (1979) 141 CLR 632
Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (No 2)
(1991) 23 NSWLR 374
Herron v HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] FCA 1687
Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Moodie
[2003] WASCA 273; (2003) 28 WAR 314
Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Rogers
[2002] NSWCA 71
Pamplin v Express Newspapers Ltd
[1988] 1 WLR 116 (CA)
R v Knight
(1988) 35 A Crim R 314
Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd v Chesterton
[2009] HCA 16; (2009) 238 CLR 460
Readers Digest Services Pty Limited v Lamb
[1982] HCA 4; (1982) 150 CLR 500
Roberts v Bass
[2002] HCA 57; (2002) 212 CLR 1
Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
[2003] HCA 52; (2003) 216 CLR 327
Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 7)
[2019] FCA 496
Sands v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd & Anor
[2010] SASC 202
Secretary, Department of Health and Community Services v JWB and SMB [Marion’s Case]
[1992] HCA 15; (1992) 175 CLR 218
Singleton v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (No 1)
[1983] 2 NSWLR 722
TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Pahuja
[2019] NSWCA 166
Thom v Associated Newspapers Ltd
(1964) 64 SR (NSW) 376
Trkulja v Google LLC
[2018] HCA 25; (2018) 263 CLR 149
Waterhouse v Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd
(1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Division: General Division Registry: New South Wales National Practice Area: Other Federal Jurisdiction
Number of paragraphs: 915 Dates of hearing: 1–5, 9–12, 15–19, 22–26, 29 and 30 June, 1–3, 6–8, 22 and 29 July, 3, 4, 6, 10, 12, 13, 26–28 August 2020 Counsel for the Applicants: S Chrysanthou SC with B Dean Solicitor for the Applicants: Company Giles Pty Ltd Counsel for the Respondents: T Blackburn SC with A d’Arville Solicitor for the Banki Haddock Fiora
