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Hunter v Hanson

Hunter v Hanson

Case [2017] NSWCA 164 6 July 2017

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Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hunter v Hanson [2017] NSWCA 164
Hearing dates: 30 June 2017
Date of orders: 30 June 2017
Decision date: 06 July 2017
Before: McColl JA at [1],
Gleeson JA at [47]
Decision:
Application for leave to appeal and notice of motion dated 9 June 2017 dismissed with costs

Catchwords:
CIVIL PROCEDURE — Court of Appeal — application for leave to appeal – where applicant seeks to conduct case on appeal on basis diametrically opposed to forensic course pursued at trial

DEFAMATION – defences – absolute privilege – Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 27, Sch 1, cl 27

DEFAMATION – defences – good faith – where at trial applicant admitted defamatory letters lacked bona fides and were false – Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW), s 96(2) – Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW), s 47

DEFAMATION – defences – triviality
DEFAMATION – remedies – compensatory damages – damage to reputation – defamatory publication to statutory authority responsible for plaintiff’s registration as a doctor – where plaintiff obliged to disclose publications to professional association and insurer
Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW)
District Court Act 1973 (NSW)
Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW)
Health Practitioner Regulation Amendment Act 2010 (NSW)
Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW)
Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW)
Cases Cited: Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26
Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27
Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 660; [2005] HCA 46
Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69
Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31
Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027
Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1
Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (2015) 89 NSWLR 538; [2015] NSWCA 99
Hunter v Hanson [2014] NSWCA 263
Hunter v Hanson [2015] HCA Trans 16
Jones v Sutton (2004) 61 NSWLR 614; [2004] NSWCA 439
Lucire v Parmegiani [2012] NSWCA 86
Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 749
Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28
Rajski v Carson (1988) 15 NSWLR 84
Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 57
Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 327; [2003] HCA 52
Sydney South West Area Health Service v MD [2009] NSWCA 343; (2009) 260 ALR 702
Szanto v Melville [2011] VSC 574
Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40
Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598; [1993] HCA 57
Category: Principal judgment
Parties: Scott Hunter (Applicant)
Benjamin Alan Hanson (Respondent)
Representation:
Counsel:
C Evatt and J Henness (Applicant)
A T S Dawson SC and M Rabsch (Respondent)
Solicitors:
Brendan Pigott (Applicant)
Banki Haddock Fiora (Respondent)

File…

Grounds of appeal

[14] The appellant contends that the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent had discharged the onus of establishing the matters required under the relevant provision.

[15] It was submitted that his Honour failed to give adequate weight to the evidence of the second witness, and that the findings of fact were not reasonably open on the material before the Court.

[16] The respondent, for its part, submits that no error is disclosed, and that the conclusions reached were well within the range of outcomes available to the primary judge.

Consideration

[17] It is convenient to deal first with the question of construction, as the resolution of that issue informs the remaining grounds advanced by the appellant.

[18] For the reasons that follow, we are of the view that the appeal should be allowed in part and the matter remitted for further determination.

Continue reading Hunter v Hanson

Details

AGLC: Hunter v Hanson [2017] NSWCA 164
Case: [2017] NSWCA 164
Decision Date: 06 July 2017

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In *Hunter v Hanson*, the applicant sought leave to appeal a decision of the primary judge. The dispute concerned a defamation claim brought by the respondent against the applicant. The applicant sought to conduct the appeal on a basis that was fundamentally different from the forensic strategy adopted at trial.

The Court of Appeal was required to determine whether to grant leave to appeal, particularly in light of the applicant's proposed change in legal argument. This involved considering whether the applicant should be permitted to resile from admissions made at trial regarding the lack of bona fides and falsity of the defamatory letters. The court also had to consider the applicability of defences such as absolute privilege, good faith, and triviality in the context of the admitted facts and the nature of the publications.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the application for leave to appeal. Their Honours reasoned that the applicant's attempt to pursue a forensic course diametrically opposed to that taken at trial, and to resile from admissions made concerning the lack of bona fides and falsity of the defamatory letters, was not a basis upon which leave to appeal should be granted. The court found no error in the primary judge's decision.

Consequently, the application for leave to appeal and the notice of motion dated 9 June 2017 were dismissed with costs.

Orders

Orders of the court

Application for leave to appeal and notice of motion dated 9 June 2017 dismissed with costs

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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Citations

AGLC Citation

Hunter v Hanson [2017] NSWCA 164

Cases citing this decision · 0 of 0 shown

No citing cases yet.

Cases cited in this decision · 21 of 21 shown

Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd
[2015] NSWCA 99 Para 33

…ave been, forms a large element in the [general compensatory] damages”. [25] 25. Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (2015) 89 NSWLR 538; [2015] NSWCA 99 (at [64]) per McColl JA citing Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 (at 1125) per Lord Diplock.…
Hunter v Hanson
[2014] NSWCA 263 Para 8

…ing the respondent leave to serve his statement of claim initiating the defamation proceedings 15 months after it was filed. [4] 4. Hunter v Hanson [2014] NSWCA 263; special leave refused Hunter v Hanson [2015] HCA Trans 16.…
The Age Company Ltd v Liu
[2013] NSWCA 26 Para 20

…5. Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69 (Carolan) per Kirby P; see also Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26 (at [13]) per Bathurst CJ. 6. Carolan per Cole JA.…
Lucire v Parmegiani
[2012] NSWCA 86 Para 27

…very substantial protection of absolute privilege to the narrow class which incontestably falls within the designated purpose’”. [11] 9. [2012] NSWCA 86 (Lucire). 10. Ibid (at [35], [40], [51]) per Nicholas J (Bathurst CJ, Allsop P, Beazley JA and McCallum J agreeing). 11. Ibid (at [36], [39]) citing Rajski v Car…
Szanto v Melville
[2011] VSC 574 Para 30

…It is unnecessary to consider the question whether it also extended to whether his feelings were likely to be hurt. Cf Szanto v Melville [2011] VSC 574 (at [161] – [164]) per Kaye J.…
Sydney South West Area Health Service v MD
[2009] NSWCA 343 Para 21

…at a defamation claim. [7] 7. Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 14.14(2), (3); see, for example, Sydney South West Area Health Service v MD [2009] NSWCA 343; (2009) 260 ALR 702 (at [20], [25]) per Hodgson JA (Allsop P and Sackville AJA agreeing); (at [51]) per Allsop P (Sackville AJA agreeing).…
Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University
[2009] HCA 27 Para 26

…mical to the public’s confidence in the legal system. [17] 17. Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 (Aon Risk Services) (at [5], [31]) per French CJ.…
Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd
[2005] HCA 46

…13] NSWCA 26 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 660; [2005] HCA 46 Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broo…
Jones v Sutton (No 2)
[2005] NSWCA 203 Para 30

…ity of harm. [22] “Harm” in s 33 refers, at least, to whether the respondent’s reputation was likely to be damaged. [23] 22. Jones v Sutton (2004) 61 NSWLR 614; [2004] NSWCA 439 (at [21] – [24]) per Beazley JA (Santow JA and Stein AJA agreeing). 23. Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 749 (at 799) per curiam…
Jones v Sutton
[2004] NSWCA 439 Para 30

…rm” in s 33 refers, at least, to whether the respondent’s reputation was likely to be damaged. [23] 22. Jones v Sutton (2004) 61 NSWLR 614; [2004] NSWCA 439 (at [21] – [24]) per Beazley JA (Santow JA and Stein AJA agreeing). 23. Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 749 (at 799) per curiam (Moffitt P, Hope…
Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd
[2003] HCA 52 Para 32

…Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118 (at 150); [1966] HCA 40 per Windeyer J; Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 327; [2003] HCA 52 (at [60]) per Hayne J (Gleeson CJ and Gummow J agreeing).…
Roberts v Bass
[2002] HCA 57

…ky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Rajski v Carson (1988) 15 NSWLR 84 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 57 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 327; [2003] HCA 52 Sydney South West Area Health Service v MD [2009] NSWCA 343; (2009) 260 ALR 702 Szanto v Melvil…
Rajski v Carson; Rajski v Carson; Rajski v Carson; Raybos Australia Pty Ltd v Tectran Corporation Pty Ltd
[2002] NSWSC 300 Para 27

…, [40], [51]) per Nicholas J (Bathurst CJ, Allsop P, Beazley JA and McCallum J agreeing). 11. Ibid (at [36], [39]) citing Rajski v Carson (1988) 15 NSWLR 84 (at 93) per Kirby P and Hope JA.…
Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority
[1998] HCA 53 Para 29

…y be the case insofar as each letter was published to the NSW Medical Board. 12. Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 (at [69]) per McHugh, Gummow, Kirby and Hayne JJ.…
Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority
[1998] HCA 28 Para 29

…r as each letter was published to the NSW Medical Board. 12. Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 (at [69]) per McHugh, Gummow, Kirby and Hayne JJ.…
Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd
[1995] NSWCA 69 Para 20

…costs which will be involved are likely to swamp the money sum involved in the dispute. [6] 5. Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69 (Carolan) per Kirby P; see also Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26 (at [13]) per Bathurst CJ. 6. Carolan per Cole JA.…
Webster v Lampard
[1993] HCA 57 Para 27

…660; [2005] HCA 46. 19. Ibid (at [47] – [48], [51]) per Gleeson CJ, Gummow, Hayne and Callinan JJ; see also Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598; [1993] HCA 57.…
Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd
[1993] HCA 31 Para 35

…e respondent’s reputation and as matters going to his personal hurt. 26. See Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44 (at 70 – 71); [1993] HCA 31 per Brennan J.…
Coulton v Holcombe
[1986] HCA 33 Para 21

…roperly be drawn is not a matter which should be addressed on appeal for the first time. [13] 13. Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 (at 7 – 8); [1986] HCA 33 per Gibbs CJ, Wilson, Brennan and Dawson JJ.…
Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd
[1966] HCA 40 Para 32

…al and professional reputation and as consolation to him for a wrong done. [24] 24. Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118 (at 150); [1966] HCA 40 per Windeyer J; Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 327; [2003] HCA 52 (at [60]) per Hayne J (Gleeson CJ and Gummow J agreeing).…
[1972] AC 1027
[1972] AC 1027 Para 33

…25] 25. Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (2015) 89 NSWLR 538; [2015] NSWCA 99 (at [64]) per McColl JA citing Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 (at 1125) per Lord Diplock.…

Legislation cited in this decision · 8

Defamation Act 2005 (TAS)
27 2 mentions (from Para 3)
District Court Act 1973 (NSW)
127(2)(c)(i) 2 mentions (from Para 4)
Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW)
96(2) 2 mentions (from Para 5)
Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW)
47 2 mentions (from Para 5)
Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW)
14.14(2) 2 mentions (from Para 21)
Health Practitioner Regulation Amendment Act 2010 (NSW)
1 mention (from Para 5)
Local Government Act 1993 (TAS)
1 mention (from Para 27)
Public Health Act 1991 (NSW)
1 mention (from Para 23)

Medium Neutral Citation:	Hunter v Hanson [2017] NSWCA 164
Hearing dates:	30 June 2017
Date of orders:	30 June 2017
Decision date:	06 July 2017
Before:	McColl JA at [1], Gleeson JA at [47]
Decision:	Application for leave to appeal and notice of motion dated 9 June 2017 dismissed with costs
Catchwords:	CIVIL PROCEDURE — Court of Appeal — application for leave to appeal – where applicant seeks to conduct case on appeal on basis diametrically opposed to forensic course pursued at trial DEFAMATION – defences – absolute privilege – Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 27, Sch 1, cl 27 DEFAMATION – defences – good faith – where at trial applicant admitted defamatory letters lacked bona fides and were false – Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW), s 96(2) – Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW), s 47 DEFAMATION – defences – triviality DEFAMATION – remedies – compensatory damages – damage to reputation – defamatory publication to statutory authority responsible for plaintiff’s registration as a doctor – where plaintiff obliged to disclose publications to professional association and insurer
Legislation Cited:	Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW) Health Practitioner Regulation Amendment Act 2010 (NSW) Medical Practice Act 1992 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW)
Cases Cited:	Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 660; [2005] HCA 46 Carolan v AMF Bowling Pty Ltd t/as Bennetts Green Bowl [1995] NSWCA 69 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 31 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Gacic v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (2015) 89 NSWLR 538; [2015] NSWCA 99 Hunter v Hanson [2014] NSWCA 263 Hunter v Hanson [2015] HCA Trans 16 Jones v Sutton (2004) 61 NSWLR 614; [2004] NSWCA 439 Lucire v Parmegiani [2012] NSWCA 86 Morosi v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 749 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Rajski v Carson (1988) 15 NSWLR 84 Roberts v Bass (2002) 212 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 57 Rogers v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 327; [2003] HCA 52 Sydney South West Area Health Service v MD [2009] NSWCA 343; (2009) 260 ALR 702 Szanto v Melville [2011] VSC 574 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1966) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40 Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598; [1993] HCA 57
Category:	Principal judgment
Parties:	Scott Hunter (Applicant) Benjamin Alan Hanson (Respondent)
Representation:	Counsel: C Evatt and J Henness (Applicant) A T S Dawson SC and M Rabsch (Respondent) Solicitors: Brendan Pigott (Applicant) Banki Haddock Fiora (Respondent)
File…