Many people know what defamation is in the court of public opinion. However, there are very specific elements that need to be satisfied before a claim for defamation can succeed.
There are now uniform defamation laws across Australia. In Queensland, the relevant provisions are found in the Defamation Act 2005 (Qld).
To establish defamation, the following must be satisfied:
When bringing an action for defamation, it is important to seek advice from an experienced law firm with expertise in this area to ensure that you do not make mistakes that could affect your prospects of success.
Please contact Stone Group Lawyers today on (07) 5635 0180 for a free 30 minute consultation to discuss any of the above matters.
The most common problem for any defamation claim is trying to determine whether the material is defamatory. Typically, such a question is answered by examining how a reasonable person would view the publication. It becomes a lot more difficult when you ask the reasonable person to “read between the lines” to determine the defamatory meaning of certain communications.
Potential complainants also need to be aware of standing issues; that is, does the law allow them to bring an action for defamation. They should also be aware of possible statutory defences, including justification, contextual truth, absolute privilege, qualified privilege, publication of public documents, fair report of proceedings of public concern, honest opinion, innocent dissemination and triviality.
Stone Group Lawyers are experts in defamation cases and can provide you with ongoing advice on both litigious and non-litigious ways in which to deal with communications that may be defamatory.
Specifically, Stone Group Lawyers will provide you with advice on:
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