Former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith should pay all costs reasonably incurred by Fairfax in successfully defending itself in his defamation case, which took more than 100 trial days and was an abuse of process, a court has heard.
A paparazzo suing Seven for defamation over an interview with Meghan Markle’s father has failed to strike out the broadcaster’s contextual truth defence alleging he is a conman that sought to portray victims of Harvey Weinstein in a bad light.
A judge overseeing the defamation trial of former commando Heston Russell said he was “disturbed” by an ABC press release following the broadcaster’s decision to drop its public interest defence on the eve of trial, which was reinstated days later.
A judge hearing closing submissions in Heston Russell’s defamation case against the ABC has expressed “significant reservations” about evidence by the former commando and said that a “less than complete” story could still be protected under the new public interest defence.
The judge hearing a trial in defamation cases by former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann against TV broadcasters ABC and Ten has said he expects both Lehrmann and alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins to take the witness stand.
A judge who found that Ben Roberts-Smith committed war crimes has recused himself from deciding whether the Office of the Special Investigator can access evidence in the former SAS corporal’s defamation case for its own investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan.
The judge hearing a lawsuit by senator Linda Reynolds against the partner of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins over allegedly defamatory social media posts has urged the parties to resolve the matter outside of court, citing the “psychological strain” and “emotional stress” of litigation.
Fox News CEO Lachlan Murdoch has paid $1.3 million to Crikey publisher Private Media for costs incurred successfully defending his defamation suit.
A judge has rejected a request by lawyers for Seven and the TV network’s billionaire chairman, Kerry Stokes, to issue a correction to his published decision ordering the production of over 8,600 emails exchanged with Ben Roberts-Smith’s lawyers in a defamation case.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has succeeded in overturning a defamation judgment requiring her to pay $250,000 in damages to former colleague Brian Burston, with the Full Federal Court finding an allegation of sexual abuse against Burston was substantially true.