The Victorian Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal against a defamation jury verdict in favour of JWS client, the Commonwealth of Australia. In 2021, Ms Ola Ouda and Mr Amgad Shehada brought proceedings in which they alleged that the AFP and one of its Commanders had defamed them at a press conference announcing their arrest for alleged fraud offences. They applied for leave to appeal on the basis that the jury's verdict that they were not defamed was unreasonable. The Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the application, saying "…it was open to the jury, acting reasonably and properly instructed, to find that Commander Hunter’s words did not convey the alleged defamatory imputations". The JWS team that secured this win includes Partner Kevin Lynch, Senior Associate Jade Tyrrell and Associate Alanna Harrigan. The team instructed Lisa De Ferrari SC, Matt Lewis SC, and Caroline Dawes as counsel on the appeal. The case is: Ola Hassan Mohamed Ouda & Ors v Todd Hunter & Anor [2024] VSCA 323. #defamation #media #auslaw
