Networked Knowledge
Defamation Law Homepage

Author of this page: Dr Robert N Moles "You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity" - Epicurus

Go to: Networked Knowledge - the Henry Keogh homepage
Go to: A state of Injustice - table of contents
Go to: Losing Their Grip - The Case of Henry Keogh - table of contents

Cases in progress

Roseanne Catt NSW case
Lloyd Rayney in West Australia - accused by police of being 'a suspect' in his wife's murder

Defamation Part One
Defamation Part Two (Defences)

South Australia: Criminal Defamation - Barry Standfield, Wendy Utting

18 December 2008 - R v Craig Ratcliff - Sentencing Remarks, Criminal Defamation
15 December 2008 - The Australian - Law still unclear after child abuse activists acquitted of defamation
13 December 2008 - The Australian - Two cleared of defamation over pedophile claims.
13 December 2008 - The Australian - criminal defamation in South Australia
12 December 2008 - The Advertiser - Child abuse activists Malcolm Standfield and Wendy Utting acquitted
2 December 2008 - The Australian - Accused in defamation case 'always checked with boss'.
1 December 2008 - The Advertiser - Premier 'told of child sex claims'
21 November 2008 - The Advertiser - Court hears pedophiles cop had parties in courtrooms.
20 November 2008 - The Advertiser - Family murders snuff film claim
19 November 2008 - The Advertiser - Abuse campaigners on trial over 'false pedophilia claims'.

South Australia: Dr Andrew Cannon [Deputy Chief Magistrate] v Michael Atkinson [Attorney-General]

1 October 2008 - The Australian - Judge rejects relevance of crowded jails in sentencing
26 September 2008 - The Australian - Legal history in the making as South Australia's A-G is sued
9 July 2008 - The Australian - Last chance for Attorney-General to avoid being sued
20 June 2008 - The Australian - No hint of truce in SA law officers' stoush
14 June 2008 - The Australian - SA Magistrate urged to sue over 'delusional' blast
13 June 2008 - The Australian - Senior SA magistrate called 'daft' and 'delusional'

Academic articles

February 2008 - Australian Press Council: News - Developments in the defence of fair comment

Madeleine McCann - successful Defamation action

This is the report of the payment to the McCann family, following publications which cast aspersions upon their integrity
19 March 2008 - Daily Express - McCanns welcome papers' apology
See also the Madeleine McCann homepage

Media articles

4 December 2008 - Huffington Post - Dixie Chicks Singer Sued For Defamation
7 September 2008 - Sunderland Echo - Wearside Jack was framed
10 March 2008 - BBC News - Appeal overturns food review case
External link: This is an interesting article by Levy on Dr Smith's defamation actions against the media in Toronto
24 January 2008 - BBC News - Appeal over 'poison pen' review
21 December2007 - Sydney Morning Herald - Responsible journalism will have its day in court
3 November 2007 - Herald Sun - Wikipedia cleared in defamation case
1 November 2007 - The Australian - Jury to decide on meaning of "pimp"
12 October 2007 - The Guardian - Landmark libel ruling grants more freedom to journalists
11 October 2007 - BBC News - Book author wins historic libel case
3 October 2007 - Sydney Morning Herald - Academics consider defamation action
3 August 2007 - Daily Telegraph - Peter Breen sued for defamation in relation to Janine Balding case
7 July - Sydney Morning Herald - 'Pervert's mates' win $480,000 from newspaper

Manock v Channel 7 Today Tonight (Adelaide) - "Promo"

13 December 2007 - ABC News - Today Tonight promo 'not fair'
2007 Manock v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd High Court judgment - Gummow, Hayne and Hayden JJ
2007 Manock v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd High Court judgment - Kirby J
2007 Manock v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd High Court judgment - Gleeson CJ
2007 Manock v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd High Court judgment - References
2007 Manock v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd Leave to appeal to High Court Submissions of C7 (appellant)
2007 Manock v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd Leave to appeal to High Court Submissions of Dr Manock (respondent)
2006 Manock v Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd Full Court Supreme Court SA The defence of "fair comment"

Channel 7 Today Tonight cases

5 March 2008 - S, DJ v Channel 7 Today Tonight (Adelaide)strike out of defence - Full Court

2006 - S, DJ v Channel 7 Today Tonight (Adelaide) and ABC Radio Full Court Supreme Court SA
Preliminary issue: Reference to person as "suspect". Whether reasonable grounds required for report

2006 - Peek v Channel 7 Today Tonight (Adelaide) Full Court Supreme Court SA
Extended defence of privilege regarding matters of government and politics and whether protected by constitutional guarantee of free speech

Continuing: Lane and Hurley v Channel Seven 2008

July 2008 - preliminary findings
July 2008 - Annexure A - Broadcast transcript: Peter Liddy’s Assets Today Tonight SAS 7, 6:30pm, 10 June 2002
July 2008 - Annexure B - Broadcast transcript: Peter Liddy’s Assets Today Tonight SAS 7, 6:30pm, 22 July 2002
July 2008 - Annexure C - Broadcast transcript: Peter Liddy’s Assets Today Tonight SAS 7, 6:30pm, 16 August 2002
July 2008 - Annexure D - Broadcast transcript: Peter Liddy’s Assets Today Tonight SAS 7, 6:30pm, 25 April 2005
July 2008 - Annexure E - Broadcast transcript: Peter Liddy’s Assets Today Tonight SAS 7, 6:30pm, 2 May 2005
July 2008 - Annexure F - Broadcast transcript: Peter Liddy’s Assets Today Tonight SAS 7, Schedule of Imputations

Continuing: Manock v Moles 2008

July 2008 - action on pleadings

Australian Cases

2006 - Ralph Clarke v Channel 9 and Ors District Court South Australia
2007 Channel 9 South Australia Pty Ltd & Ors v Clarke [2007] SASC 309
Fair comment in matter involving Ralph Clarke and Edith Pringle

2002 - Roberts v Bass - High Court Australia
Privilege regarding matters of government and politics - constitutional guarantee of free speech

1998 - Chakravarti v Advertiser Newspapers - High Court Australia
Fair comment - reports of Royal Commission

1997 - Mann v O'Neill - High Court Australia
Absolute privilege for judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings

1910 - Ronald v Harper - High Court Australia

UK Cases

[Summary]: Michael Charman v Orion Publishing and Graeme McLagan [2007] EWCA Civ 972

[Full Judgment]: Michael Charman v Orion Publishing and Graeme McLagan [2007] EWCA Civ 972
A most important defamation case from the UK. All investigative journalists will be invigorated by this turn of events

Jameel v The Wall Street Journal Europe [2006] UK House of Lords
A case which sets out "responsible standards" for journalism

Elaine Chase v Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd [2002] EWCA 1772
Discusses the implications of European Human Rights legislation on freedom of communication

Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd and Others [1999] UKHL 45

One of the most important and recent UK decisions, dealing with privilege and the role of the media
Judgement of Lord Nicholls
Judgement of Lord Steyn

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