Yunghanns v Colquhoun-Denvers

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA Not Restricted

AT MELBOURNE

COMMON LAW DIVISION
MAJOR TORTS LIST

S CI 2016 01170

PETER NICHOLAS YUNGHANNS	Plaintiff
v
NICHOLAS COLQUHOUN-DENVERS	Defendant

---

JUDGE:	T FORREST JA
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATES OF HEARING:	30 April, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 May, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 August 2018
DATE OF JUDGMENT:	28 June 2019
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	Yunghanns v Colquhoun-Denvers
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2019] VSC 433

---

DEFAMATION – Claim – Two emails in November and December 2015 alleged to be defamatory – Imputations – Defendant concede defamatory nature of imputations – Common law truth – Statutory defence of justification – Whether accusations not genuine, authentic or truthful – Plaintiff did not act dishonestly – Qualified privilege made out – Qualified privilege not defeated by malice – Defamation Act 2005 ss 25, 30.

DEFAMATION – Counterclaim – Three emails between November 2015 and May 2016 alleged to be defamatory – Plaintiff denied defamatory nature of imputations – Common law defence of truth established – Statutory defence of justification made out – Defamation Act 2005 s 25.

---

APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Plaintiff	Mr W Houghton QC with Mr B Holmes	Strongman & Crouch
For the Defendant	Mr B McClintock SC with Dr S Baron Levi and Ms J Alderson	Batten Sacks

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1... Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 The impugned emails............................................................................................................ 3

2 .. Legal Principles....................................................................................................................... 13

2.1 Defamation............................................................................................................................. 13

2.2 Defences.................................................................................................................................. 15

2.2.1... Common law truth................................................................................................ 15

2.2.2... Statutory justification............................................................................................ 15

2.2.3... Common law qualified privilege........................................................................ 16

2.2.4... Statutory qualified privilege............................................................................... 17

2.2.5... Malice...................................................................................................................... 19

3 .. Background.............................................................................................................................. 20

4... The Claim................................................................................................................................... 32

4.1 Publication............................................................................................................................. 32

4.2 Imputations............................................................................................................................ 35

4.2.1 The 3 November email............................................................................................ 35

4.2.2 The 30 December email........................................................................................... 37

4.2.3 The imputations are defamatory............................................................................ 39

5... Defence of Truth/Justification.......................................................................................... 39

5.1 Witnesses................................................................................................................................ 42

5.2 Dishonesty.............................................................................................................................. 43

5.3 FIP by-laws accusations....................................................................................................... 44

5.4 Bank accounts........................................................................................................................ 55

5.4.1 PY................................................................................................................................ 62

5.4.2 AJ................................................................................................................................. 63

5.4.3 NC-D........................................................................................................................... 64

5.4.4 RC................................................................................................................................ 65

5.4.5 AT................................................................................................................................ 65

5.4.6 Analysis...................................................................................................................... 67

5.4.7 Conclusion................................................................................................................. 74

5.5 The Taylor Report................................................................................................................. 74

5.5.1 Conclusion................................................................................................................. 80

5.6 Failure to elect B and C country members and fake entries on the website................ 80

5.6.1 PY................................................................................................................................ 85

5.6.2 NC-D........................................................................................................................... 85

5.6.3 Analysis and conclusion.......................................................................................... 86

5.7 Super Nations Tournament................................................................................................. 88

5.7.1 PY................................................................................................................................ 92

5.7.2 NC-D........................................................................................................................... 93

5.7.3 RC................................................................................................................................ 93

5.7.4 Conclusion................................................................................................................. 93

5.8 CEO......................................................................................................................................... 94

5.8.1 PY.............................................................................................................................. 100

5.8.2 NC-D......................................................................................................................... 100

5.8.3 RC.............................................................................................................................. 101

5.8.4 AT.............................................................................................................................. 101

5.8.5 Analysis and conclusion........................................................................................ 102

5.9 Commitments...................................................................................................................... 104

5.9.1 Conclusion............................................................................................................... 105

5.10 FIP 2014 accounts.............................................................................................................. 106

5.10.1 Conclusion............................................................................................................. 111

5.11 FIP 2015 accounts.............................................................................................................. 111

5.11.1 Conclusion............................................................................................................. 112

5.12 Polo Development Fund.................................................................................................. 112

5.12.1 PY............................................................................................................................ 118

5.12.2 NC-D....................................................................................................................... 120

5.12.3 AJ............................................................................................................................. 122

5.12.4 RC............................................................................................................................ 123

5.12.5 AT............................................................................................................................ 123

5.12.6 Was there a binding three year US$600,000 contract between FIP and MPC/Goldin for the creation of a PDF?................................................................................................ 125

5.12.7 Misconduct…