23 Jul 2020
CRAIG v SLATER [2020] NZCA 305
- Citation
- [2020] NZCA 305
- Court
- Court of Appeal
On the appeal the Court held the High Court erred in its assessments of meaning and of several defences: certain Whaleoil and related publications did bear the pleaded meanings and some of those meanings were defamatory; the defence of truth did not cover some material embellishments (notably the 'six-figure' settlement allegation); honest opinion could not be founded on the opinion of a third party presented as fact; and responsible public interest communication failed where the publisher did not adequately verify, seek comment or exercise responsibility. The Court remitted assessment of dam…