Gorman v Barber

[2004] NSWCA 402

Reported Decision: 61 NSWLR 543

Court of Appeal

CITATION:	GORMAN v BARBER & ORS [2004] NSWCA 402
HEARING DATE(S):	8 September 2004
JUDGMENT DATE:	8 November 2004
JUDGMENT OF:	Mason P at 1; Beazley JA at 68; Santow JA at 69
DECISION:	Appeal allowed.
CATCHWORDS:	Defamation - whether imputation defamatory - imputation that specialist medical practitioner "provides treatment to his patients which is useless, dangerous and causes them harm" - powers of Court of Appeal - Supreme Court Act s108(3) allows Court of Appeal to enter verdict on s7A issue in plaintiff's favour in appropriate case. (D)
LEGISLATION CITED:	Defamation Act 1974, s7A Supreme Court Act 1970, ss86(1), 108(3)
CASES CITED:	Beran v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 107 Buck v Jones [2002] NSWCA 8 Charlwood Industries Pty Ltd v Brent [2002] NSWCA 201 Cinevest Limited v Yirandi Productions Limited [2001] NSWCA 68, Aust Tort Reports 81-610 Drummond-Jackson v British Medical Association [1970] 1 All ER 1094 Greek Herald Pty Ltd v Nikolopoulos (2002) 54 NSWLR 165 Hocking v Bell (1945) 71 CLR 430 at 441-2 (High Court), (1947) 75 CLR 125 (Privy Council) John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin (2003) 77 ALJR 1657 Murlarczyk v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 467 Pavy v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 46 Pratten v Labour Daily Ltd [1926] VLR 115 Rivkin v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 87 Shergold v Tanner (2002) 209 CLR 126 Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Sydney v Hogan (2001) 53 NSWLR 343
PARTIES :	Richard Francis GORMAN Jane BARBER & Ors
FILE NUMBER(S):	CA 40507/03
COUNSEL:	Appellant: In Person Respondent: P Gray SC/ ATS Dawson
SOLICITORS:	Appellant: N/A Respondent: Minter Ellison

LOWER COURTJURISDICTION:	Supreme Court
LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S):	CLD 20706/01
LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER :	Grove J

CA 40507/03
CLD 20706/01

MASON P
BEAZLEY JA
SANTOW JA

Monday 8 November 2004

Richard Francis GORMAN v Jane BARBER & Ors

Australian Doctor

is a magazine published regularly and sent free to fulltime general practitioners in private practice and certain prescribing and staff specialists. It is available to other readers on subscription. The appellant is a registered medical practitioner and a specialist ophthalmologist.

An article about the appellant in Australian Doctor was found by a jury to contain the imputation that the appellant “provides treatment to his patients which is useless, dangerous and causes them harm”. The jury nevertheless held that such an imputation was not defamatory.

On appeal:

HELD (per Mason P, Beazley JA and Santow JA agreeing):

1. The verdict that the imputation was not defamatory was not one that a reasonable jury could reach (John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin (2003) 77 ALJR 1657 applied).

• Pleaded imputations must be understood in the context of the matter complained of ( Greek Herald Pty Ltd v Nikolopoulos (2002) 54 NSWLR 165 applied)

• Defamation extends to disparagement of reputation in trade, business profession or office, including suggestions of…