Corporate types who sue for defamation
March 5, 2010
We've dusted off the old Crikey defamation list, but only reproduce the corporate litigants.
Sir Peter Abeles: Transport magnate who acquired his knighthood from Bob Askin over a hand of cards. Notorious for issuing various stopper writs against critics in the 1970s and 80s. Insulated himself against much media scrutiny by forging alliances with senior media and political figures: Bob Hawke called him his best friend, while Abeles ran Ansett as a joint venture with Rupert Murdoch, running the airline into the ground just in time for Air New Zealand to buy its carcass. His corrupt activities with the TWU and his connexions with the US mafia were virtually ignored by the mainstream media, partly because of his reputation for legal action.
Chris Anderson: The Optus CEO and former journalist sued The Australian's then business columnist Mark Westfield in the ACT Supreme Court in 1999. The Oz settled with a grovelling apology without telling Westfield.
Paul Anderson: The BHP CEO used Geoffrey Sher QC to sue The Australian and Mark Westfield for a column that said the "main reason" for the BHP-Billiton merger was because Anderson's wife Kathy "detested" Australia and Australians. Ironically, it was Geoffrey Sher who helped The Australian beat Kennett's action in 1999. The matter settled with a prominent above-the-fold apology to Anderson on the front of the business section.
David Baffsky: Was awarded $68,000 in the ACT Supreme Court in 1988 with the current NSW chief justice Jim Spigelman as his counsel when the hotellier sued The SMH over an article suggesting he was heavily involved in Sydney's Luna Park along with Abe Saffron.
Tony Bell: The former CEO of Southern Cross Broadcasting issued against Derryn Hinch for comments on 3AK suggesting 3AW had exercised too much power in the Melbourne talk radio market. Southern Cross Broadcasting were joined as a co-plaintiff so presumably shareholders footed the legal bills. The case settled after now-departed 3AK director Jeff Kennett intervened to sort things out with his old friends at 3AW.
Alan Bond: Successfully sued The Sydney Morning Herald in the 1980s, setting back investigative pieces on him for many years until Paul Barry and Four Corners came along.
Bristile: The Perth-based tile and brick company sued the Buddhist Society of WA over material published on the Buddhist Society Web site, hosted by iiNet, about a long-running dispute between the society and Bristile over the hauling of clay in trucks past the Buddhist Society's monastery in Serpentine. Bob Carr is trying to ban companies from being able to sue for defo.
George Buschman: John Singleton's 2GB chief executive sued sacked Drive Time presenter Mike Jeffreys for daring to criticise him publicly about a $530,000 unfair dismissal claim against the station. It was due to go to court on March 12 in Sydney but 2GB appeared to cave in and hand over a six-figure sum to Jeffreys.
Greg Butera: The Melbourne developer sued Bracks government minister Christine Campbell for alleging he'd tried to bribe her into supporting a development she opposed in Pascoe Vale. It settled pretty quickly.
Jim Byrnes: Alan Bond's bankruptcy mate sued The Sydney Morning Herald over a Kate Askew item in CBD. Good Weekend did him over good and proper a couple of years later.
Tom and Wendy Chapman: The Hindmarsh Bridge developers in Adelaide successfully sued Green Left Weekly for $110,000 but did they ever get paid? They also won a $150,000 payout from the Conservation Council. Then there is the Victor Harbor Times which handed over $166,300 and a further eight confidential settlements that have yielded $427,309. These people have made a lot of tax free money from defamation. Can anyone claim to have made more than them?
Ron Clarke: The Olympic champion sued the ABC's 7.30 Report over a report which alleged he was building a sports complex on a toxic dump. He asked for a $75,000 settlement - which the ABC refused. Taxpayers must have been thanking Aunty's brilliant legal team when a few months ago a Melbourne jury awarded him over $1 million.
Laurie Connell: Dodgiest merchant banker in history. Issued about 300 defo writs against various journalists but all failed because he was a crook who went broke.
John Elliott: Sued the ABC and former Victorian Labor Minister Steve Crabb over claims the NCA was investigating him shortly before the 1990 federal election. He also sued Paul Keating but this settled in another famous Kirribilli pact that involved a FIRB decision.
Syd Fischer: The yachtsman and colourful Sydney hotel owner got $200,000 in 1987 against Fairfax for suggesting he was incompetent and dishonourable regarding aspects of the America's Cup challenge.
Ross Garnaut: The former Hawke adviser and ambassador to China sued Liberal Senator Ross Lightfoot for some comments made about a trip to China where the Senator appeared to be more interested in furthering his gold mining interests. Our informant believes it cost Lightfoot $20,000.
Bill Gurry: The Melbourne investment banker sued former Victorian Treasurer Alan Stockdale when he incorrectly alleged Gurry was mates with John Cain and should not serve on the Tricontinental Royal Commission.
Joe Gutnick: Sued the US magazine Barons, published by Dow Jones, in the Victorian Supreme Court over an article suggesting he had links with convicted tax scheme merchant Nachum Goldberg. Dow Jones settled the long-running Gutnick case with no damages, no apology and only a small amount of costs.
Solomon Lew: Sued the Herald Sun over a front page article detailing an alleged inside job where someone broke into the so-called "Yannon room" at ASIC. Settled with nominal payout and an apology after a couple of years.
Macquarie Bank: sued The Australian and reporter Michael West personally over its extensive coverage about the banks controversial and lucrative dealings with Tasmania's Beaconsfield Goldmine.
Eddie McGuire
: The high profile, but sensitive TV host and Collingwood president sued The Age over a column that called him a "hopelessly conflicted tabloid muckraker". The Age settled pretty quickly and Eddie gloated about having a big win.
Ian McPhee: Used his own law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth to sue former CASA chairman Dick Smith for bagging the McPhee approach to aviation safety.
Chris Murphy: The Sydney criminal lawyer turned stockmarket punter settled with The Daily Telegraph over an inoffensive gossip column item largely written by Lachlan Johnston but carrying Stephen Mayne's by-line that compared him with his namesake who owns 2SM and used to manage INXS. Murphy has also sued an internet chatroom.
Neil Ohlsson: A former business partner of Kerry Packer and Malcolm Edwards who sued over Paul Barry's Packer book but settled when slight changes were agreed.
Kerry Packer: Sued truckloads of people over the years, especially Fairfax and the ABC.
David Parker: The former NRMA director collected $135,000 from 2UE in 1983 when they suggested he was a disastrously unsuitable candidate for election to the board.
Brian Quinn: The corrupt former Coles Myer boss sued The Age over a Katherine Teh article that suggested he sold some shares shortly before announcing a big profit slump at the 1991 AGM. The slump was announced a few weeks earlier at the profit result so Quinn got a big payout that helped pay for his renovations.
Gina Rinehart: Sued Channel Seven Perth which claimed she had failed to contribute money to a medical cause and received a quickfire $100,000 settlement when Seven's doctor source changed his story.
Rene Rivkin: The late Sydney stockbroker failed is his writ against The Sydney Morning Herald and The Fin Review over the Christmas Eve fire and $50 million insurance claim involving Offset Alpine and the death of the girlfriend of Rivkin's former driver Gordon Woods. He also sued Seven's Witness program over a Caroline Byrne story and The Australian over a story after ASIC slapped enforceable undertakings on him for doing the opposite of his share tips.
Michael Roux: The former WorkCover boss in Victoria sued the ABC in a case that cost $2 million and lasted for a record 69 days but was eventually settled with two apologies that were read out in court and at the beginning of the 7.30 Report.
Theodore Skalkos: This Marrickville Greek newspaper proprietor was charged $300,000 by Stuart Littlemore QC to run a 35 day defamation trial that failed miserably.
Malcolm Turnbull: Merchant banker and Liberal PM-in-waiting recently settled with The AFR in the ACT Supreme Court over an Andrew Main piece which called him "part polymath, part sociopath". Malcolm also sued Richard Ackland in 1980 over a piece in the The SMH involving his girlfriend's cat that settled out of court. Turnbull also sued Mark Latham for defamation after Latham said Turnbull was "unfit for public office". Latham was forced to issue a public apology (he said he apologied to Turnbull "for any hurt which my comments have caused him") and has agreed to pay unspecified costs to Turnbull.
La Familia Versace: The celebrity designer family successfully sued dodgy Harbour City Sydney private eye Frank Monte in a sensational Sydney trial over his book, which claimed the late Gianni was a Mafia baron.
Ron Walker: Has sued various people over the years including the head of the Historic Buildings Council and journalists such as Julianne Davies on The Age.
Tony Webster: Owner of Webster Publishing sued Stephen Mayne, David Ireland and Crikey Media over an article downloaded 178 times. Infosentials bought the business but has since gone broke with creditors losing about $7 million. The case settled in 2001 with a $1000 contribution to our costs.
Nick Whitlam: Very litigious as unsuccessfully sued the Sunday program for a John Lyons piece about his time at the NRMA that was celebrated in the 20th anniversary program. Also successfully sued and settled with 2GB and his former PR consultant, Rob Dempsey, who shelled out $100,000.
Lloyd Williams: Another regular litigant who sued Melbourne University Architecture academic Miles Lewis, former Labor Minister David White, The Age and various other parties.
Neville Wran: Australia's wealthiest former Premier sued the ABC in the early 1980s over allegations he attempted to interfere with the natural course of justice.
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