Defamation
Roberts-Smith’s claim of ‘ambiguity’ towards murders dismissed in costs decision
A costs decision in Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation proceedings turned on whether he knew the imputations to be true,...
05 September 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Dated laws, tricky defence point against Higgins in Reynolds defamation action
In defending herself against defamation proceedings heard in a jurisdiction that relied on “old law” – and armed...
27 August 2025
By Naomi Neilson
‘Not entertaining that’: Unexpected, confusing claims in Lehrmann appeal
On the second day of the appeal hearing, many parts of the submissions advanced on behalf of Bruce Lehrmann were met...
22 August 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Lehrmann’s appeal submissions stump court
Bruce Lehrmann’s appeal hearing opened with a back and forth between his solicitor and the full court on some of her...
21 August 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Small-business owner given green light to sue media company
The Federal Court extended the time limit to allow a man to bring defamation proceedings against Fairfax Media for...
14 August 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Barrister fails to keep defamation damages out of solicitor’s hands
A barrister who sued Nine for falsely suggesting she was a dog thief failed to overturn an order for the damages to be...
21 July 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Prison sentences for sovereign citizens who defamed solicitor
Sovereign citizens who defamed a solicitor in emails to high-profile members of the profession will spend a month...
25 June 2025
By Naomi Neilson
New privacy laws ‘unlikely’ to reduce rate of defamation litigation
Australia has enacted its long-awaited statutory tort, allowing serious invasions of privacy to be legally actionable....
16 June 2025
By Grace Robbie
Ben Roberts-Smith fails to overturn defamation decision
Despite convincing the court to hear explosive new evidence, Ben Roberts-Smith’s appeal of his defamation action has...
19 May 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Reporter says sensitive Roberts-Smith material ‘gossip’, not privilege
During tense cross-examination, the reporter who exposed Ben Roberts-Smith’s war crimes said he did not consider the...
05 May 2025
By Naomi Neilson
$160k awarded for defamation over sickening paedophilia accusations
A child recovery agent who once vowed he would not pay “one cent” to a family dispute resolution practitioner he...
28 March 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Seven to face defamation proceedings over alleged Lehrmann comments
A former producer who sensationally claimed Seven fronted the costs of Bruce Lehrmann’s “cocaine and prostitutes”...
27 March 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Wilkinson fails to hook referee costs on Network Ten
A court has tossed out an attempt by Lisa Wilkinson to have Network Ten foot the bill for a costs assessor who...
19 March 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Pet detective sued over search for missing puppy
A pet detective was sued by two women who intended to steal Teddy, a six-month-old puppy, from a family with young...
21 February 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Seven gets $200k penalty for defaming men booted from NRL match
A court has ordered Channel Seven to pay $200,000 to three young men for reports that falsely accused them of making...
10 February 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Nine Network pays $3m to Indigenous group members for ‘distressing’ articles
Under a newly approved settlement scheme, Nine Network will pay group members of the Wotton class action $3,000,000 for...
05 February 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Lawyer awarded $160k for former clients’ defamatory emails
A sole practitioner has been awarded $160,000 in damages from former clients who made “grossly defamatory”...
21 January 2025
By Naomi Neilson
Legal analysis: Deeming victorious in Nazi defamation case but damages come up short
Ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming won her defamation fight against Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto. In this...
13 December 2024
By Naomi Neilson
Federal Court judge proposes media code of conduct
The Federal Court’s Justice Michael Lee, whose recent judgments include Lehrmann v Network Ten, has suggested a code...
02 December 2024
By Naomi Neilson
Lehrmann’s new barrister hiding from trolls, court told
The senior counsel representing Bruce Lehrmann at his appeal hearing has asked to remain anonymous over a fear of...
07 November 2024
By Naomi Neilson