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Kerry Stokes can’t see Fairfax’s itemised legal bill in Ben Roberts-Smith case
Defamation 2023-12-21 12:41 pm By Cindy Cameronne

Billionaire Kerry Stokes has lost his challenge to paying in lump sum Fairfax’s legal fees in defending Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case over war crimes allegations, having argued for an itemised bill after the Seven West Media chair agreed to foot the costs on an indemnity basis.

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Kerry Stokes ‘in the dark’ about costs in Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case, court told
Nicholas Owens 2023-12-12 10:27 pm By Cindy Cameronne

Billionaire Kerry Stokes and Nine-owned Fairfax are fighting about how to calculate costs for Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case after the Seven West Media chair agreed to foot the legal bill on an indemnity basis.

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Kerry Stokes to pay costs of Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case
Defamation 2023-12-11 10:03 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

Seven West Media chair Kerry Stokes has agreed to pay the costs of Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case, sparing the billionaire from producing thousands of emails exchanged with Roberts-Smith’s solicitors about the case. The Stokes-owned Australian Capital Equity has acquiesced to a third-party costs order sought by Nine-owned Fairfax, according to a Federal Court order […]

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Seven must produce emails exchanged with Ben Roberts-Smith’s lawyers
Defamation 2023-11-30 1:33 pm By Cindy Cameronne

An appeals court has refused to set aside subpoenas forcing Seven to produce some of the 8,600 emails it exchanged with Ben Roberts-Smith’s solicitors concerning his failed defamation case over alleged war crimes he committed in Afghanistan.

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Ben Roberts-Smith hit with indemnity costs for failed defamation case
Defamation 2023-11-28 5:30 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

Ben Roberts-Smith has been hit with indemnity costs for his failed defamation case over articles accusing him of war crimes, with a judge agreeing with the publishers that the former SAS corporal knew the allegations were substantially true.

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Judge to take on Heston Russell costs assessment after reports of $2M in fees
Defamation 2023-10-24 11:46 pm By Cindy Cameronne

The judge overseeing ex-commando Heston Russell’s defamation case against the ABC over reporting of alleged war crimes will be involved in assessing his costs after media reports put his lawyers’ fees at $2 million.  

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Ex-commando Heston Russell wins $390,000 in defamation case against ABC
Judgment 2023-10-16 12:27 pm By Cindy Cameronne

A judge has awarded ex-commando Heston Russell $390,000 in damages over coverage of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, in the first ever post-trial judgment in a defamation case to consider the public interest defence.

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Ben Roberts-Smith to pay $1M in security in defamation appeal
Appeals 2023-10-10 10:53 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

Former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has been ordered pay $910,000 in security for costs as he appeals a defamation ruling that found he committed murder in Afghanistan and was not a reliable witness. 

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Seven, Kerry Stokes’ privacy should be ‘respected’ in Ben Roberts-Smith case, says judge
Defamation 2023-09-28 3:04 pm By Cindy Cameronne

In allowing Seven and chairman Kerry Stokes to challenge a ruling granting Fairfax access to 8,600 emails with accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith’s legal team, a judge has said they will suffer prejudice if “personally embarrassing” communications are put into evidence. 

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Seven can challenge production of emails in Ben Roberts-Smith case
Defamation 2023-09-25 10:00 pm By Cat Fredenburgh

Seven Network and chairman Kerry Stokes can challenge a ruling allowing Fairfax to access thousands of “deeply personal” emails sent to and from former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith during his defamation case.

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