Suburban defamation boom-time for lawyers

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   A Sydney court's decision to charge Google with contempt for failing to remove defamatory reviews could open the floodgates for "suburban defamation" but some online businesses have welcomed the ruling for bringing more scrutiny to the truthfulness of online posts.The Sun Herald and Sunday Age revealed on Sunday that Google faced a contempt of court charge for failing to remove defamatory reviews about a Sydney businessman in a landmark case heard in the Supreme Court on Thursday.
It means any company ... that allows comment on its social media pages can be liable for defamation in circumstances where it may not have read or even known that the post was there."
MinterEllison partner Peter Bartlett
Peter Bartlett, a partner at law firm MinterEllison, said the Google case "breaks new territory" and if upheld "opens the floodgates" for all social media companies and search engines in this country to be sued for defamatory comments posted by their users.
"There are a lot of lawyers that will represent a plaintiff no-win, no-fee and they would see the prospect of recovering substantial damages and costs from a media defendant or a search engine far more attractive than going for a person posting on social media," Mr Bartlett said.https://www.watoday.com.au/national/suburban-defamation-boom-time-for-lawyers-20190707-p524wt.html

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Isaac soloman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Status: Offline Points: 6085	Post Options Post Reply Quote Isaac soloman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Suburban defamation boom-time for lawyers Posted: 08 Jul 2019 at 3:36pm
	A Sydney court's decision to charge Google with contempt for failing to remove defamatory reviews could open the floodgates for "suburban defamation" but some online businesses have welcomed the ruling for bringing more scrutiny to the truthfulness of online posts. The Sun Herald and Sunday Age revealed on Sunday that Google faced a contempt of court charge for failing to remove defamatory reviews about a Sydney businessman in a landmark case heard in the Supreme Court on Thursday. It means any company ... that allows comment on its social media pages can be liable for defamation in circumstances where it may not have read or even known that the post was there." MinterEllison partner Peter Bartlett Peter Bartlett, a partner at law firm MinterEllison, said the Google case "breaks new territory" and if upheld "opens the floodgates" for all social media companies and search engines in this country to be sued for defamatory comments posted by their users. "There are a lot of lawyers that will represent a plaintiff no-win, no-fee and they would see the prospect of recovering substantial damages and costs from a media defendant or a search engine far more attractive than going for a person posting on social media," Mr Bartlett said.https://www.watoday.com.au/national/suburban-defamation-boom-time-for-lawyers-20190707-p524wt.html

Tlazolteotl Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 02 Oct 2012 Location: Elephant Butte Status: Offline Points: 31422	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tlazolteotl Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jul 2019 at 11:40am
	Miranda Devine reckons this is a plot against right wingers because they post more toxic spite bilge online so this will hurt them more. Free speech! We want free speech!
	An honest politician is one who when he is bought will stay bought. Simon Cameron

TIGER Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Champion Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Status: Offline Points: 8533	Post Options Post Reply Quote TIGER Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Jul 2019 at 12:24pm
	Free speech costs money these days
	EAD