QLD law firm sues for defamation against State's Premier & Attorney-General.
- Apr 3, 2014
- 1 min read
On April 1, Queensland firm, Hannay Lawyers, filed a defamation claim in the Brisbane Supreme Court seeking $600,000 in damages from both Premier Campbell Newman and Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie, over comments that bikie lawyers are part of a “criminal gang machine”.
'The damages include $500,000 in general damages and a further $100,000 in aggravated damages based on alleged “malice of the defendants in publishing words they knew to be untrue, motivated by a wish to make political capital out of an attack on lawyers”.'
Read Article: Gold Coast lawyer sues Premier and AG
This defamation claim raises significant questions about the political implications of public statements made by officials. The assertion that bikie lawyers are part of a “criminal gang machine” underscores the potential harm of such allegations. The case could set a precedent for how political figures engage in rhetoric about legal professionals, especially in the context of Royal Reels and other sensitive sectors where reputations are crucial.