Defamation

A judge has thrown out a defamation case brought by the son of infamous Kings Cross personality John Ibrahim against publisher Nationwide News over a “sensationalist and voyeuristic” Sunday Telegraph story.

The former directors of an Isreali life sciences company have been hit with $190,000 in damages after a judge found they maliciously defamed a former colleague in a series of ASX announcements and letters.

A judge has hit brothers Adam and Charif Kazal with $1.45 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit brought by their former business partner Rodric David and his company, finding the Kazals vilified and denigrated David as part of a ‘vendetta’.

Clive Palmer said he feared for his physical safety as a result of the criminal immunity granted to the WA government by legislation and the consequent ‘political campaign’ waged against him, as he took the stand for the first time in his defamation trial against the WA premier.

Embattled war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith continues to pursue legal action against his ex-wife, having applied for leave to appeal a Federal Court decision disallowing cross-examination over allegations she accessed his private emails.

Seven Network has settled a defamation lawsuit brought by a Nyamal man who the broadcaster wrongly identified as the suspect in the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith in Western Australia.

A judge overseeing the closely watched trial in Clive Palmer’s defamation case against WA Premier Mark McGowan has vented his frustrations with the state of Australian defamation proceedings, railing against what he said was the common practice of parties refusing to concede even minor points. 

Decorated Afghanistan war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith has accused his ex-wife of lying to journalists, lawyers and the court in order to “seek revenge” for his alleged infidelity.

Comments made about Clive Palmer by Western Australia premier Mark McGowan in press conferences were “heavy with historical and sinister significance”, a court has heard on the first day of trial in the mining billionaire’s defamation case. 

Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith told his wife she would lose access to their children if she did not lie to his lawyers and the media about his extramarital affair, a court has heard.