V’landys/TTR defamation case set to go before a jury
A defamation case brought before the NSW Supreme Court by Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys is likely to be heard before a jury as the defendants, which includes The Thoroughbred Report, are forced into a strategic reset after a court set aside key subpoenas.
A defamation lawsuit brought by Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys against thoroughbred industry publication The Thoroughbred Report is set to go before a jury, as V’landys’ legal team forced a key concession in the case.
A preliminary hearing for the case took place before Justice Stephen Campbell in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday.
The matter concerns an article published late last year that discussed V’Landys’ long tenure as Racing NSW boss.
In the hearing, the subpoenas issued by The Thoroughbred Report and managing director Vicky Leonard, addressed to the Australian Rugby League Commission, Racing NSW and Racing Australia, were set aside.
As a result, the defence was offered the opportunity to file an amended defence by the end of the month, but was ordered to foot the costs of Friday’s hearing.
It amounts to a reset of the defence strategy, which is being headed up by Lyndelle Barnett, SC.
A new timeline for various legal processes was set down by Justice Campbell, with proceedings listed for argument and/or for directions on August 21.
V’landys’ senior counsel, Sue Chrysanthou, SC, informed the court that the sports administrator will seek to have the defamation case heard before a jury.
The case has drawn significant publicity, with Leonard launching a GoFundMe page to help fund the defence, which has raised close to $450,000.
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