Category Archives: Publication

Lying defamation defendant shot down by Sporting Shooters – $887,027.66 in damages: Moroney v Zegers [2018] VSC 448

For a short time in 2012, Karel Zegers was the Acting President of the Victorian branch of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAAV).  His position on the Board was up for election in August that year and he decided … Continue reading

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The Return of Trkulja: Episode IV – Trkulja v Google LLC [2018] HCA 25

The Trkulja defamation franchise is into its fourth instalment, with the latest victory against the Google Empire coming with a stirring outcome arising from Mr Trkulja’s debut appearance in the High Court. Previously in Trkulja v Google: in 2012, Trkulja … Continue reading

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Rebel Wilson’s Perfect Defamation Record: Wilson v Bauer Media Pty Ltd & Anor [2017] VSC 521

Rebel Wilson, Hollywood starlet and Australian heroine has added another chapter to her success, this time in real life Australian court. Her defamation victory is by far the largest victory in the history of Australian defamation law, and her lesson … Continue reading

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Tweed Shire Mayor gets revenge threefold – Milne v Ell [2017] NSWSC 555

Property developer, William Robert Ell sued Tweed Shire Councillor, Katie Milne in defamation in 2014. He sued over a letter to the editor which Ms Milne had written about a contentious building development conducted by Mr Ell. While Mr Ell … Continue reading

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Melbourne defamation lawyer loses to Google: Defteros v Google LLC & Google Australia Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 158

Google Australia Pty Ltd – it looks like Google, smells like Google and it very much tries to act like it is not Google. For several years there have been several people who have all tried to sue Google Australia … Continue reading

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Trkulja III not as good as the originals: Google Inc v Trkulja [2016] VSCA 333

By 2008, Indiana Jones had fought, flown and fallen through several great adventures: all against great odds, in the face of powerful empires and despite significant hurdles, he ploughed on… ultimately to victory. Then came Indiana Jones and the Crystal … Continue reading

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Barrister’s internet defamation: He fought the law and the law won: Dods v McDonald [2016] VSC 201

During the evening of 11 December 2008, Tyler Cassidy, a 15 year old boy had stolen two large knives from Kmart at Northcote Plaza Shopping Centre, near All Nations Park. He moved through the shopping centre, its shops and car … Continue reading

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Defendants’ go all-in: Plaintiff calls their bluff and wins the $340,000 pot: Polias v Ryall & Ors [2014] NSWSC 1692

The plaintiff and four defendants were poker players used to playing high stakes games: hands worth thousands of dollars. In the middle of 2012, the plaintiff and the first defendant went to Las Vegas for a tournament and shared a … Continue reading

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Google’s dream comes true: plaintiff fails because trial would cost too much to run: Bleyer v Google Inc [2014] NSWSC 897

Roland Bleyer alleged that Google Inc published seven items about him, three in the form of search results and others in relation to articles that those search results hyperlinked to. For instance, the first matter that Bleyer sued on said … Continue reading

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Cronulla’s legal advice on ASADA kept confidential: Cronulla-Sutherland District Rugby League Football Club Ltd v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 494

The biggest news in Australian sport this year has been the investigation by the Australian Crime Commission and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) into the alleged use by athletes and members of sporting teams of peptides and similar so-called … Continue reading

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