DAMAGES – AUSTRALIA

Geoffrey Rush awarded almost $2.9 million after defamation win

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Original article by Jamie McKinnell
abc.net au – Page: Online : 24-May-19

Nationwide News has been ordered to pay nearly $2.9 million in damages to Hollywood actor Geoffrey Rush. He was found to have been defamed by ‘The Daily Telegraph’ over allegations that he had behaved inappropriately towards actress Eryn Jean Norvill during a Sydney Theatre Company production of ‘King Lear’. Rush’s payment includes $850,000 for general and aggravated damages, $919,678 for future economic loss and $42,000 in interest. Rush’s barrister Sue Chrystanthou noted there had been an offer to settle for $50,000, but Nationwide News had instead chosen to mount a truth defence.

CORPORATES
SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY, NATIONWIDE NEWS PTY LTD

Court tells Wilson to pay back $4.2m

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Original article by Michael Pelly
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 28-Jun-18

Victoria’s Court of Appeal has ordered Hollywood star Rebel Wilson to pay 80 per cent of the legal costs that Bauer Media incurred in its appeal against her landmark defamation payout. Wilson had initially been awarded a record $A4.7m, which Bauer paid in September 2017. This was subsequently reduced to just $A600,000 plus interest on appeal, and Wilson has been ordered to repay more than $A4.1m.

CORPORATES
BAUER MEDIA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, COURT OF APPEAL (VICTORIA)

Nine exposed to potential class action over Don Burke allegations

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Australian – Page: Online : 28-Nov-17

The Nine Network is to investigate sexual harassment, bullying and assault allegations made against Don Burke by female staff and associates. The accusations against Burke, host of the long-running "Burke’s Backyard" show that was broadcast on Nine, were made as part of an investigation by the ABC and Fairfax Media. Roger Singh from Shine Lawyers notes media firms could be hit with significant damages claims if it was found they were negligent in their duty of care in terms of staff that had been the subject of abuse.

CORPORATES
NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, SHINE LAWYERS, CTC PRODUCTIONS PTY LTD

Wilson’s payout is a warning to media: lawyers

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Original article by Katie Walsh
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 14-Sep-17

Bauer Media has been ordered to pay Rebel Wilson a record $A4.56m in damages over a series of magazine articles that were found to have been defamatory. The Hollywood actress had alleged that the articles published in "Woman’s Day" and on its website had caused her to miss out on securing film roles in the US. Stuart Gibson of law Mills Oakley says the payout will ensure that media companies check their facts thoroughly before publishing "salacious" articles.

CORPORATES
BAUER MEDIA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BAUER MEDIA KG, MILLS OAKLEY LAWYERS PTY LTD, SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA, MADGWICKS, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Defamation laws need overhaul: judge

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Original article by Marianna Papadakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 24-Jul-15

New South Wales District Court judge Judith Gibson notes that social media has contributed to a rise in defamation lawsuits in Australia. Justice Gibson says federal Treasurer Joe Hockey’s case against Fairfax Media demonstrates the need for reforms to defamation laws. She argues that the definition of what constitutes a publication needs to be reconsidered in the digital age, while rules governing the awarding of damages need to be revised in order to discourage minor claims.

CORPORATES
DISTRICT COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, MINTER ELLISON, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, TWITTER INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Hockey wins $200,000 in Fairfax case

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Original article by Marianna Papadakis, Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 1-Jul-15

Fairfax Media has been ordered to pay $A200,000 in damages to Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey in his defamation case against the newspaper publisher. The damages payout comprises $A120,000 arising from the publication of newspaper posters saying "Treasurer for sale", plus $A80,000 for several tweets with a similar message. Justice Richard White ruled that the posters and tweets were defamatory, although the newspaper articles to which they referred did not defame Hockey.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NORTH SYDNEY FORUM

Ex-players may sue over brain trauma: Roberts

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Original article by Michael Chammas
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 40 : 11-Nov-14

The National Rugby League could face a spate of lawsuits from former players who sustained brain injuries during their career. Former player Ian Roberts says he has not yet decided whether to launch legal action over his concussion-related injuries, but he believes that other ex-players are likely to do so. Sydney-based lawyer George Draca is confident that he would be able to succeed in legal action against the league

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NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, NORWEST LAWYERS, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Sacked man loses $42m claim

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Original article by Tim Clarke
The West Australian – Page: 9 : 29-Sep-14

The Federal Court of Australia has ruled in favour of Woodside Petroleum in a unfair dismissal action by a former employee. Hassan Zaghloul sought more than $A42m in damages after claiming that he had been bullied and harassed during his tenure as the LNG group’s principal structural engineer. He has also accused lawyers involved in the case of professional misconduct

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA