News Media Ownership v Findlay explained

News Media Ownership v Findlay
Court:Court of Appeal of New Zealand
Date Decided:4 June 1970
Full Name:News Media Ownership v Findlay
Citations:[1970] NZLR 1089
Judges:North P, Turner J, Haslam J
Keywords:negligence

News Media Ownership v Findlay [1970] NZLR 1089 is a cited case in New Zealand regarding the defence of fair comment / honest opinion to a claim involving defamation.[1]

Background

News Media's newspaper Truth ran a campaign to bring back caning. In the process, they made allegations against opposition MP Findlay that his views to the contrary were based on the fact that as he was a lawyer, he was more interested in the extra legal fees an anti-caning policy would bring him, rather than any perceived interest in victims of domestic violence.

Findlay, later sued for defamation, and was later awarded $15,000. NMO appealed.

Held

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Butterworths Student Companion Torts . 4th . McLay . Geoff . LexisNexis . 0-408-71686-X. 2003 .