Most Recent
Court warns of ‘dangers’ of defamation suits, awards Google reviewer indemnity costs

A judge who tossed a house painter’s case over a one-star Google review has awarded partial indemnity costs to the critic and said her order should serve as a lesson about the “catastrophic” costs of defamation cases.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

Judge wary of Bruce Lehrmann cross-examination in limitations stoush

A judge has expressed “reluctance” at a bid for accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann to face cross-examination at an upcoming hearing over whether his defamation claims against Network Ten, News Corp and two journalists should be tossed for being brought out of time.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

Winners and losers in 2022’s headline-grabbing defamation cases

From the ongoing saga of the high-profile Christian Porter action against the ABC to “backyard” litigation testing the serious harm bar, defamation cases made headlines in 2022, with winners and losers alike shelling out millions to lawyers to protect their reputations.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

Judge knocks back painter’s defamation case over ‘unflattering’ Google review

In one of the first cases to test a new ‘serious harm’ threshold for defamation matters, a judge has knocked back a NSW house painter’s defamation case over a one star Google review, saying that people would consider “unflattering” business reviews to be expressions of personal opinion. 

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

Sacked sports journalist loses appeal over coverage of ‘vivid and disgusting’ comments

Former Channel 7 rugby league journalist Josh Massoud has lost an appeal of a decision clearing multiple media outlets of defamation over reports alleging he threatened to kill and defile the corpse of a young reporter.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

Sunday Telegraph wins defamation case brought by John Ibrahim’s son

A judge has thrown out a defamation case brought by the son of infamous Kings Cross personality John Ibrahim against publisher Nationwide News over a “sensationalist and voyeuristic” Sunday Telegraph story.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

Settlement reached in Chinese investors’ class action against Sydney financial advisor

A settlement has been reached in a class action against a Sydney-based financial advisory firm by a group of Chinese investors over a property investment and visa scheme that allegedly saw group members lose $14.5 million in funds.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

In a first, judge says emoji ‘reasonably capable’ of being defamatory

In what is believed to be a first in Australia, a judge hearing a defamation case between two Sydney lawyers has found that an emoji is capable of carrying a defamatory imputation.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

ASIC can’t avoid trial in defamation lawsuit by Queensland mortgage firm

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will have to face trial in a defamation lawsuit brought by a Queensland building and mortgage company over two media releases the corporate regulator issued in 2018 and 2019, after defeating a separate $10 million defamation case last year.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?

Sydney financial advisor hit with $14.5M class action by Chinese investors

A Sydney-based financial advisory firm has been hit with a class action by a group of Chinese investors over a property investment and visa scheme that allegedly saw group members lose $14.5 million in funds.

Subscribe to Lawyerly to access this article.

Already a subscriber?

Lost your password?