BACKGROUND: HODGETTS V NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD &
ORS
Hodgetts
v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd & Ors
('Hodgetts') is a Supreme Court of Queensland case
which gives further guidance on the strict limitation periods for
bringing a defamation claim.
In Hodgetts the plaintiff sought damages amounting to
$2,475,000,000 from the first, second and third defendants. In June
2015, the first defendant, Nine Network Australia, broadcasted an
episode of 'A Current Affair' with a segment titled
'Kyle the Con'. The second and third defendants, Ms
Cuthbert and Mr Field, were interviewed in the 'Kyle and
Con' segment.
The plaintiff, Mr Hodgetts, at the time the segment aired was
developing a video game, which he estimated was going to sell more
than 50 million copies (this is more copies than Super Mario Bros
and Call of Duty have ever sold). Mr Hodgetts claimed that
'Kyle the Con' portrayed him as a conman and untrustworthy
and he consequently commenced proceedings,
