Scribd

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


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


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