book a virtual meeting Search Search
brisbane

one eagle – waterfront brisbane
level 30, 1 eagle street
brisbane qld 4000
+61 7 3235 0400

dandenong

40-42 scott st,
dandenong vic 3175
+61 3 9794 2600

melbourne

level 7, 600 bourke st,
melbourne vic 3000
+61 3 8615 9900

sydney

grosvenor place
level 11, 225 george st,
sydney nsw 2000
+61 2 8298 9533

hello. we’re glad you’re
getting in touch.

Fill in form below, or simply call us on 1800 888 966

Macpherson Kelley to represent Australia’s biggest media organisations in fight against “spiralling defamation payouts”

26 February 2018 Communications and Marketing Advisor Holly Gillan e: Holly.Gillan@mk.com.au d: 0481 325 359 m: 0481 325 359
Read Time 2 mins reading time

Source: The Australian

Rival free-to-air television networks Nine and Seven, newspaper publishers Fairfax Media and News Corp and radio broadcaster Macquarie Media have joined ­forces with the ABC in the ­Victorian Supreme Court’s Court of Appeal to fight against actor Rebel Wilson’s highest-ever defamation payout of more than $4.5 million. The media organisations believe the historic payout “has serious implications for freedom of speech in Australia.”

Principal Lawyer Justin Quill said in affidavit due to be filed with the appeal court today that the Rebel Wilson decision threatened to “disturb the balance between, on the one hand, avoiding unwarranted restrictions on freedom of expression, and, on the other, the provision of effective and fair remedies for persons whose reputations are harmed”.

“The decision has been relied on in an attempt to procure larger settlements on the basis that claims involving aggravated ­damages are now effectively ‘at large’ and are no longer constrained by the statutory cap,” the affidavit said.

Wilson’s appeal is listed for April 18 2018.

For the full article, click here (paywall).

stay up to date with our news & insights

Macpherson Kelley to represent Australia’s biggest media organisations in fight against “spiralling defamation payouts”

26 February 2018 Holly Gillan e: Holly.Gillan@mk.com.au d: 0481 325 359 m: 0481 325 359

Source: The Australian

Rival free-to-air television networks Nine and Seven, newspaper publishers Fairfax Media and News Corp and radio broadcaster Macquarie Media have joined ­forces with the ABC in the ­Victorian Supreme Court’s Court of Appeal to fight against actor Rebel Wilson’s highest-ever defamation payout of more than $4.5 million. The media organisations believe the historic payout “has serious implications for freedom of speech in Australia.”

Principal Lawyer Justin Quill said in affidavit due to be filed with the appeal court today that the Rebel Wilson decision threatened to “disturb the balance between, on the one hand, avoiding unwarranted restrictions on freedom of expression, and, on the other, the provision of effective and fair remedies for persons whose reputations are harmed”.

“The decision has been relied on in an attempt to procure larger settlements on the basis that claims involving aggravated ­damages are now effectively ‘at large’ and are no longer constrained by the statutory cap,” the affidavit said.

Wilson’s appeal is listed for April 18 2018.

For the full article, click here (paywall).