Quinn v Television New Zealand Ltd - [1995] 3 NZLR 216

Defamation — Damages — Whether damages excessive — Circumstances in which aggravated and/or punitive damages should be allowed — Whether jury misdirected — Duty of Judge in summing up to jury — Whether duty includes guidance to indicate range of damages — Whether duty includes reference to financial implications of a large award — Defamation Act 1992.

Defamation — Damages — New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 — Whether Act affirmation of freedom of expression relevant to question of whether or not damages excessive — Whether Act includes historic right to estimation and opinion of others to be unaffected by false statements — New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, ss 14 and 28.

Damages — Assessment — Compensatory — Aggravated and/or punitive damages — Whether excessive — Duty of Judge in summing up to jury — Whether Defamation Act 1992 altered jury's role as arbiter of fact and assessor of damages.

Practice and procedure — New trial — Whether jury misdirected — Whether damages excessive — High Court Rules, R 494(1) and (3).