Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd

CITATION : Marsden v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 510 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 20223 of 1995; 20592 of 1996 HEARING DATE(S) : Interlocutory Hearings; 1 February 1999; 3 February 1999; 4 February 1999; 9 February 1999; 10 February 1999; 11 February 1999; 12 February 1999; 15 February 1999; 16 February 1999; 17 February 1999; 18 February 1999; 19 February 1999; Jury - Trial; 22 February 1999; 23 February 1999; 24 February 1999; 25 February 1999; ; Interlocutory Hearings; 26 February 1999; 1 March 1999; 2 March 1999; 3 March 1999; 4 March 1999; 8 March 1999; 9 March 1999; 12 March 1999; 15 March 1999; 18 March 1999; 19 March 1999; 22 March 1999; 23 March 1999; 24 March 1999; 25 March 1999; March 1999; 29 March 1999; 30 March 1999; 31 March 1999; 12 April 1999; 13 April 1999; 14 April 1999; 15 April 1999; 16 April 1999; 19 April 1999; 20 April 1999; 21 April 1999; 23 April 1999; 27 April 1999; 28 April 1999; 29 April 1999; 3 May 1999; 4 May 1999; 7 May 1999; 10 May 1999; 14 May 1999; 17 May 1999; 18 May 1999; 19 May 1999; 24 May 1999; 25 May 1999; 26 May 1999; 27 May 1999; 28 May 1999; 31 May 1999; 1 June 1999; 23 June 1999; 25 June 1999; 28 June 1999 (Grafton); 2 August 1999; 13 August 1999; 19 August 1999; 18 October 1999; 20 October 1999; 22 October 1999; 25 October 1999; 26 October 1999; 28 October 1999; 29 October 1999; 2 November 1999; 4 November 1999; 9 November 1999; 12 November 1999.; Trial; 15 November 1999; 16 November 1999; 17 November 1999; 18 November 1999; 22 November 1999; 23 November 1999; 24 November 1999; 25 November 1999; 26 November 1999; 29 November 1999; 30 November 1999; 1 December 1999; 2 December 1999; 6 December 1999; 7 December 1999; 8 December 1999; 9 December 1999; 13 December 1999; 14 December 1999; 15 December 1999; 16 December 1999; 17 December 1999; 31 January 2000; 1 February 2000; 2 February 2000; 3 February 2000; 7 February 2000; 8 February 2000; 9 February 2000; 10 February 2000; 11 February 2000; 14 February 2000; 15 February 2000; 16 February 2000; 18 February 2000; 21 February 2000; 22 February 2000; 23 February 2000; 24 February 2000; 25 February 2000; 28 February 2000; 29 February 2000; 1 March 2000; 2 March 2000; 3 March 2000; 6 March 2000; 7 March 2000; 8 March 2000; 9 March 2000; 10 March 2000; 13 March 2000; 14 March 2000; 15 March 2000; 16 March 2000; 20 March 2000; 21 March 2000; 22 March 2000; 23 March 2000; 24 March 2000; 27 March 2000; 28 March 2000; 29 March 2000; 30 March 2000; 31 March 2000; 3 April 2000; 4 April 2000; 5 April 2000; 6 April 2000; 7 April 2000; 10 April 2000; 11 April 2000; 12 April 2000; 13 April 2000; 14 April 2000; 1 May 2000; 2 May 2000; 3 May 2000; 4 May 2000; 5 May 2000; 8 May 2000; 9 May 2000; 10 May 2000; 12 May 2000; 15 May 2000; 16 May 2000; 17 May 2000; 18 May 2000; 19 May 2000; 22 May 2000; 23 May 2000; 24 May 2000; 25 May 2000; 26 May 2000; 29 May 2000; 30 May 2000; 31 May 2000; 1 June 2000; 2 June 2000; 5 June 2000; 6 June 2000; 7 June 2000; 8 June 2000; 9 June 2000; 13 June 2000; 14 June 2000; 15 June 2000; 16 June 2000; 19 June 2000; 20 June 2000; 21 June 2000; 22 June 2000; 23 June 2000; 26 June 2000; 27 June 2000; 28 June 2000; 29 June 2000; 3 July 2000; 4 July 2000; 5 July 2000; 6 July 2000; 7 July 2000; 10 July 2000; 11 July 2000; 12 July 2000; 14 July 2000; 17 July 2000; 18 July 2000; 19 July 2000; 21 July 2000; 25 July 2000; 28 July 2000; 22 August 2000; 12 October 2000; 30 October 2000; 31 October 2000; 1 November 2000; 2 November 2000; 3 November 2000; 6 November 2000; 7 November 2000; 8 November 2000; 9 November 2000; 10 November 2000; 13 November 2000; 14 November 2000; 15 November 2000; 16 November 2000; 17 November 2000; 20 November 2000; 21 November 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 27 June 2001

Others Parties SOLICITORS : Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Plaintiff) Dylan McKimmie Eddy & Moloney Fallon Safetly Lawyers McCabes T O'Gorman Police Integrity Commission Police Service of NSW / Commissioner of Police State Crown Solicitor's Office Supreme Court of NSW - CEO & Principal Registrar CATCHWORDS : DEFAMATION - Trial of action - s 7A of Defamation Act 1974 - jury component - judge component - defence of justification - defence of qualified privilege - Defamation Act 1974 ss 15, 16 & 22 - cognate defences of truth, qualified protection in other States & Territories - damages - Defamation Act 1974 ss 46, 46A & 48 - claim for damages for psychiatric injury - aggravated damages - claim for exemplary damages Defamation Act 1974 Evidence Act 1995 LEGISLATION CITED : Listening Devices Act 1984 Police Integrity Commission Act 1996 Supreme Court Act 1970 Supreme Court Rules Abadom v Abadom (1857) 24 Beav 243 ABC v Comalco (1986) 68 ALR 259 ACP v Ettingshausen (Court of Appeal, 13 October 1993, unreported) Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309 Alexander v The Queen (1981) 145 CLR 395 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Andrews v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Limited (1990) 2 NSWLR 225 Apand Pty Limited v The Kettle Chip Co. (1994) 52 FCR 474 Armstrong v Strain [1952] 1 KB 232; [1952] 1 All ER 139 (CA) Austin v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1985) 3 NSWLR 354 Australian Consolidated Press v Uren [1969] 1 AC 590 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Comalco (1986) 68 ALR 259 Australian Consolidated Press v Uren (1966) 117 CLR 185 B v Medical Superintendent of Macquarie Hospital (1987) 10 NSWLR 440 Baden v Société Générale pour Favoriser le Développement du Commerce et de l'Industrie en France SA (1983) [1992] 4 All ER 161; [1983] BCLC 325 Barbaro v Amalgamated Television Services Limited (1989) 20 NSWLR 493 Barbaro v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited (1985) 1 NSWLR 30 Bellino v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995-1996) 185 CLR 183 Bennett v Minister for Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 Bickel v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (1981) 2 NSWLR 474 Bondin v Lamaro (Court of Appeal, 14 October 1994, unreported) Bowen-Rowlands v Argus Press Limited (The Times, 10 February 1926, p.5 and 26 March 1926, p.5). Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Limited (27 April 1951) Brandi v Mingot (1976) 12 ALR 551 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Broome v Cassell & Co [1972] AC 1027 Brown v Citizens Life Assurance Co (1902) 2 NSWR 212 BRS v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 275 Bugg v Day (1949) 79 CLR 442 Caldwell v Caldwell (NSW Court of Appeal, unreported, 30 August 1996) Calwell v IPEC Australia Limited (1975) 135 CLR 321 Cane v R [1968] NZLR 787 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (1993) 178 CLR 44 Chamberlain v The Queen [No. 2] (1984) 153 CLR 521 Chappell v Mirror Newspapers (1984) Aust Torts Reports 80-691 Clark v Ainsworth (1996) 40 NSWLR 463 Clark v Molyneux [1877] 3 QBD 237 Clark v Ryan (1960) 103 CLR 486 Clark v Taylor (1836) 3 Scott 95 Commissioner for Railways v Small (1938) 38 SR 564 Costello & Ors v Random House Australia Pty Ltd (1999) 137 ACTR 1 Cotogno v Lamb (No 3) (1986) 5 NSWLR 559 Coyne v Citizen Finance Limited (1990-1991) 172 CLR 211 Craig v The King (1933) 49 CLR 429 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 Dare v Pulham (1982) 44 ALR 117 David Syme & Co Limited v Hore-Lacy [2000] 1 VR 667 Davies & Cody v The King (1937) 57 CLR 1; Derry v Peek (1889) 14 App Cas 337 Dickson v Wilton [1859] 1 F. & E. 419 Domican v The Queen (1991-1992) 173 CLR 555 Doney v The Queen (1990) 171 CLR 207 Drummoyne Municipal Council v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1990) 21 NSWLR 135 Dwyer v Esmonde (1877) Ir R 11 CL 542 Edwards v Bell (1824) 1 Bing 403 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193 Equiticorp Finance Ltd (In liq) v Bank of New Zealand (1993) 32 NSWLR 50 Ex-parte Lenehan (1948) 77 CLR 403 Falcke v The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd [1925] VLR 56 Farrel v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 286 Feros v West Sydney Radio (Court of Appeal, unreported, 22 June 1982) Ghazal v Government Insurance of NSW (1992) 29 NSWLR 336 Giorgianni v R (1985) 156 CLR 473 at 504-7; 58 ALR 641 Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 196 CLR 1; 158 ALR 485; 73 ALJR 45 Grobbelaar v News Group Newspapers Limited & Anor (unreported, 18 January 2001) Hall-Gibbs Mercantile Agency v Dunn (1910) 12 CLR 84 Hanrahan v Ainsworth (1990) 22 NSWLR 73 Hansen v Border Morning Mail Pty Limited [1987] 9 NSWLR 44 Harmony Shipping Co. SA v Davis & Ors (1979) 3 All ER 177 Hepburn v TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited [1983] 2 NSWLR 682 Hepburn v TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited [1984] 1 NSWLR 386 Herald and Weekly Times Ltd v McGregor (1928) 41 CLR 254 HG v The Queen (1999) 73 ALJR 281 Horrocks v Lowe [1935] AC 135 Hughes v Mirror Newspapers (1985) 3 NSWLR 504 Hughes v Mirror Newspapers Limited (1985) 3 NSWLR 504 In Re Davis (1947) 75 CLR 409 In re Dellow's Will Trusts [1964] 1 WLR 451 In re H. and Others (Minors) [1996] AC 563 John Fairfax & Sons Limited v Kelly (1987) 8 NSWLR 131 John Fairfax & Sons v Kelly (1987) 8 NSWLR 131 John v MGN [1997] QB 586 Johns v The Law Society of New South Wales [1982] 2 NSWLR 1 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Jones v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (1992) 26 NSWLR 732 Justin v Associated Newspapers Limited (1966) 86 WN (Pt 1) 17; [1967] 1 NSWR 61 King & Mergen Holdings Pty Ltd v McKenzie (1991) 24 NSWLR 305 Kural v R (1987) 162 CLR 502; 70 ALR 658 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1 Lane v The Queen (1996) 66 FCR 144 Lange v Atkinson [2000] NZCA 9 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520 Lee v The Queen (1998) 195 CLR 594 Ley v Hamilton 153 LT 384 Liquor Marketing Group v Sadler [2000] NSWCA 161 London Computer Operators Training Limited & Ors v British Broadcasting Corporation & Ors (1973) 1 WLR 424 Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79 Loveday v Sun Newspapers Limited (1938) 59 CLR 503 Maloney v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1978) 52 ALJR 292 Manson v Associated Newspapers [1965] 1 WLR 1038 March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 McCarey v Associated Newspaper [1965] 2 QB 86 McKain v Miller & Co (SA) Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 1 McKenzie v Mergen Holdings Pty Ltd (1990) 22 NSWLR 73 McLean v Bell (1932) 147 LT 262 Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1 Merest v Harvey (1814) 5 Taunt 442 Meyer v Hall (1972) 26 DLR (3d) 309 Mirror Newspapers v Fitzpatrick [1984] 1 NSWLR 643 Monte v Mirror Newspapers Limited [1979] 2 NSWLR 663 Moran v Amoret Installations Pty Ltd (Court of Appeal, 12 April 2000, unreported) CASES CITED : Morgan v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (No.2) (1991) 23 NSWLR 374 Morgan v John Fairfax (1990) 20 NSWLR 511 Moriarty v London, Chatham & Dover Railway Co. (1870) LR 5 QB 314 Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Limited [1977] 2 NSWLR 749 Neat Holdings Pty Limited v Karajan Holdings Pty Limited (1992) 67 ALJR 170 NSW Aboriginal Land Council v Perkins (1998) 45 NSWLR 340 NSW County Press v Stewart (1911) 12 CLR 481 Packer v ABC (1993) 116 FLR 306 Palmer v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 1 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Limited (1985) 59 ALJR 844 Payne v Parker (1976) 1 NSWLR 191 Peacock v The King (1911) 13 CLR 619 Pearce v Hailstone [1992] 58 SASR 240 Peisley v R (1990) CCA (NSW) 42 Petritsis v Hellenic Herald [1978] 2 NSWLR 174 Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson [2000] HCA 36 Phillips v Eyre (1870) LR 6 QB 1 Pinniger v John Fairfax (1979) 53 ALJR 691 Planet Fisheries v La Rosa (1968) 119 CLR 118 Plumb v Australian Consolidate Press Limited (1975) 2 NSWLR 414 Pollitt v R (1992) 174 CLR 558 Qantas Airways Limited v SS Pharmaceutical Co Limited (NSW Court of Appeal, unreported, 20 July 1990; reported sub nom in SS Pharmaceutical Pty Limited v QantaAirways Limited (1991) 1 Lloyds Rep 288 Quick v Stolland Pty Limited (1998) 157 ALR 615 R v Baba [1977] 2 NSWLR 502 R v Baskerville (1916) 2 KB 658 R v Clough (1992) 28 NSWLR 396 R v Debelis (1984) 36 SASR 1 R v E (1996) 39 NSWLR 450 R v F (1995) 83 A Crim R 502 R v Field (1964) 48 Cr App R 335 R v Freeman (1985) 3 NSWLR 303 R v Galuzzo (1986) 23 A Crim R 211 R v Head & Head [1978] Crim LR 427 R v Henning (1994) 74 A Crim R 72 R v Kilbourne (1973) AC 729 R v McKenney (1983) 76 Crim App R 271 R v Skuse (NSW CCA, unreported, 24 October 1996) R v Smith [2000] NSWCCA 468 R v Stretton (1988) Crim App R 7, R v Stringer [2000] NSWCCA 293 R v Sweet-Escott (1971) 55 Cr App R 316 R v Taranto & Freeman [1999] NSWCCA 396 R v Turnbull [1977] QB 224 R v Uhrig (NSW CCA, unreported, 24 October 1996); R v Welsh (1996) 90 A Crim R 364 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited v Goldsworthy [2000] NSWCA 130 Radio 2UE Sydney Pty Limited v Parker (1992) 29 NSWLR 448 Ramsay v Watson (1961) 108 CLR 642 Randwick Labor Club Ltd v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 906 Readers Digest Services Pty Limited v Lamb (1982) 150 CLR 500 Redmond v Uebergang (1984) 1 NSWLR 311 Reg v Heyde (1990) 20 NSWLR 234 Reg v Johnston (1998) 45 NSWLR 362 Reg v Pack [1999] NSWCCA 184 (30 June 1999) Reg v Welsh (1996) 90 A Crim R Regina v AGJ (NSW CCA, unreported, 30 October 1997) Regina v Baartman [2000] NSWCCA 298 Regina v Flood [1999] NSWCCA 198 Regina v Lawson [2000] NSWCCA 214 Regina v Lewis (NSW CCA, unreported, 8 September 1998 (BC9804492)) Regina v Lucas [1981] QB 720 Regina v Paisley (1990) 54 A Crim R 42 Regina v Ward (1981) 3 A Crim R 171 Rejfek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517 Rex v Watt (1905) 20 Cox CC 852 Reynolds v Nationwide News Pty Limited & Ors [2001] WASC 90 Reynolds v Times Newspapers Limited & Ors (1999) 3 WLR 1010 Riddick v Thames Bd Mills [1977] QB 881 Rigby v John Fairfax Group Pty Limited (Court of Appeal, unreported, 1 February 1996); Rigby v Mirror Newspapers (1963) 64 SR (NSW) 34 Rofe v Smiths Newspaper Limited (1924) 25 SR(NSW) 4 Royal Aquarium and Summer and Winter Garden Society Pty Ltd v Parkinson [1892] 1 QB 431 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Limited (2000) 74 ALJR 743 Sengos v Boyle (Levine J, 10 July 1998, unreported) Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 Sherman v Nymboida Collieries Pty Ltd (1963) 109 CLR 580 Simpson v Robinson (1948) 12 QB 511 Singleton v Ffrench [1986] 2 NSWLR 698 Smiths Newspapers Ltd v Becker (1932) 47 CLR 279 Spautz v Butterworth (1996) 41 NSWLR 1 Spill v Maule (1869) LR 4 Ex 232 Standen v South Essex Recorders Limited (1934) 50 TLR 365 Steele v Mirror Newspapers Limited [1974] 2 NSWLR 348 Steiner Wilson & Webster Pty Ltd v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd [1999] ACTSC 123 (Abbey Bridal) Stephens v West Australian Newspapers Limited (1994) 182 CLR 211 Stevens v Head (1993) 176 CLR 433 Sutherland v Stopes [1925] AC 47 Tarkanyi v Mirror Newspapers Limited [1983] 2 NSWLR 698 The Herald & Weekly Times Ltd v McGregor (1928) 41 CLR 254 The Queen v Demeter (1995) 77 A Crim R 462 Theophanous v Herald and Weekly Times (1994) 182 CLR 104 Thiess v TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited (No. 5) [1994] 1 Qd R. 156 Toomey v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (1985) 1 NSWLR 291 Toomey v Mirror Newspapers Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 173 Transport Industries Insurance Co. v Longmuir (1997) 1 VR 125 Tumahole Bereng v The Queen (1949) AC 25 Turner v Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Ltd [1950] 1 All ER 449 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118 Uren v John Fairfax (1996) 117 CLR 118 Vacik Distributors Pty Limited & Anor v Australian Broadcasting Corporation & Anor (No 8) [2000] NSWSC 732 Vacik Distributors Pty Ltd v ABC (Sperling J, 8 August 2000, unreported) Vetrovec v R (1982) 136 DLR (3d) 89 Vignoli v Sydney Harbour Casino [2000] Aust Torts Reports _ 81-541 Waterhouse v Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Waterhouse v Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Watt v Longsdon [1930] 1 KB 130 Webb v Bloch (1928) 41 CLR 331 West v Government Insurance Officer of NSW (1981) 148 CLR 62 Whelan v John Fairfax & Sons Limited (1988) 12 NSWLR 148 Whitbread v R 91995) CCA (Vic) 452 Witness v Marsden & Another (2000) 49 NSWLR 429 Wright v ABC (1977) 1 NSWLR 697 XL Petroleum (NSW) Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd (1985) 155 CLR 458 DECISION : See paragraph 5276

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Judgment (11 paragraphs)

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Cases Cited (116)