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Torts - Defamation
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Elements of Defamation | -The statement is defamatory -The statement refers to the plaintiff -The statement is communicated to a third party |
The words must be defamatory -Definitions Sim v Stretch | "A statement which may tend to lower the plaintiff in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally"-Lord Atkin |
The words must be defamatory -Definitions Youssoupoff v M.G.M. | "A false statement about about a man to his discredit"-Scrutton LJ |
The words must be defamatory -Definitions Parmiter v Coupland | "A publication without justification which is calculated to injure the reputation of another by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule"-Parke B |
The words must be defamatory -Definitions Youssoupoff v M.G.M. 2nd definition | "A statement about a man that tends to make others shun and avoid him"-Slesser LJ |
The words must be defamatory -Definitions Thornton v Telegraph Media Group Ltd | May have introduced a new requirement for substantial harm to the plaintiff |
Illustrations of defamation | -Imputations of anti-social behaviour -Imputations of fraud, dishonesty, criminal conduct -Humor -Statements tending to make people 'shun and avoid' the plaintiff -Imputations of incompotence or unfitness for a job -Imputations of financial difficult |
Imputations of criminal conduct | -Stating P has committed a crim offense can be defam if mistake is made as to actual offense -Proof of P's conviction for offense is conclusive if it subsisted at the time statement was made -Saying P is suspected of a crime can also be defamatory, it i |
Imputations of criminal conduct: Loutchansky v Times Newspapers Mitchell v Hirst | -To state that someone has commited a criminal offence can be defamatory, even if the have commited a different one to that stated |
Imputations of criminal conduct: s 48 Evidence Act 2006 | -Proof that a person has been convicted of the offence is conclusive proof that they commited it if the offence subsisted at the time the statement was made |
Imputations of criminal conduct: Hyams v Peterson | -To say that someone is suspected of a crime can also be defamatory, it is a question of fact how far the defamatory meaning goes |
Imputations of criminal conduct: Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd | Suggested the use of a three-tier hierachical (in likeliness to be considered defamatory) approach Tier one-Suspicion implying guilt Tier two-Suspicion alone Tier three-Grounds for an inquiry |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: Truth v Holloway | Allegation that minister had misused his position- allegation was untrue |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: Shadbolt v Independent New Media (Auckland) Ltd HC | Involved article suggesting that Shadbolt was a hypocrite and was not a caring mayor |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: McLean, Smale & Phillips v Vickery | Allegations that local body officials were corrupt in carrying out their duties. |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: Polanski v. Conde Nast Publications Ltd | Article in Vanity Fair about Roman Polanski suggested that on the way to his wife's funeral, he propositioned another woman. Suggested he was callous etc. He won claim. |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: -Relevance of context, social attitudes and prevailing mores Slazengers Ltd v Gibbs | Allegation Slazenger was a German company. It was defamatory due to the german war context. |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: -Relevance of context, social attitudes and prevailing mores -Brooks v Muldoon | Muldoon said Brooks was a left-winger – defamatory given context of red-scare Communist Cold War times |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: -Relevance of context, social attitudes and prevailing mores -Homosexuality -New Zealand Magazines v Hadlee | -Allegation Hadlee was having a lesbian affair with another woman. -Court did not make a finding as to whether alleging homosexuality was defamatory- both counsels accepted it was, so Court did not make a ruling. |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: -Relevance of context, social attitudes and prevailing mores -Homosexuality -Cruise v Express Newspapers Plc | Claim upheld for allegation that Cruise was gay |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: -Relevance of context, social attitudes and prevailing mores -Homosexuality -Television New Zealand Ltd v Quinn | Obiter: McGechan J in the Court of Appeal |
'An allegation of homosexuality or lesbianism might be viewed less seriously now than twenty years ago.' | |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: -Relevance of context, social attitudes and prevailing mores -Homosexuality -John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Rivkin | Kirby J: "Whether [an allegation of homosexuality] it does or does not harm a person's reputation to publish such an imputation is related to time, personality and circumstance" -However this is not entirely correct in the example it gives: someone whos |
Imputations of immoral or improper conduct or tendencies: -Relevance of context, social attitudes and prevailing mores -Homosexuality -Liberace v Daily Mirror | Liberace sued for defamation, they could not prove he was gay so Liberace won claim. -Was an imputation he was gay, not direct accusation |