Lower Defamation Damages

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31540, 30 November 1967, Page 15

Lower Defamation Damages

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, Nov. 29. A New South Wales Supreme Court jury has awarded $20,002 to a Labour Party member of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Thomas Uren, in a defamation action against Australian Consolidated Press, Ltd. Mr Uren had claimed damages for defamation arising

from articles published in the “Daily Telegraph,” the “Bulletin,” and the “Sunday Telegraph.” The decision yesterday ended the second trial of the action. In March, 1964, Mr Uren was awarded £30,000 by a jury before Mr Justice Collins. The company appealed and the Full Court ordered a new trial limited to damages. In June, 1966, the High Court directed a new trial on all issues and dismissed Mr Uren’s cross-appeal, asking i-that the jury’s verdict be g restored.

The jury returned unanimous verdicts on all counts. On the first count, concerning the “Daily Telegraph” article published December 8, 1961, it returned for the company. The jury awarded Mr Uren $20,000 on the second count, relating to an article in the “Bulletin” on November 3, 1962.

granted, a stay of proceedings on the second count.

The jury awarded Mr Uren $1 damages on each of the third and fourth counts which concerned articles in the “Sunday Telegraph” on February 10, 1963. Mr D. A. Hunt, for the company asked for, and was