How spiteful is Trevor Mallard that he wants to name the man he smeared with appalling accusations in court proceedings?
An ex-parliament staffer suing Trevor Mallard for defamation after a sexual assault claim is fighting to keep his details secret.
He was stood down by the closed shop Parliamentary Service last year after a review into bullying and harassment at Parliament, which revealed 14 people said they had been the victim of a sexual assault in the parliamentary workplace.
Shortly after the report was released on May 21 the Speaker of the House spoke to media and made the statements on which the action is based.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Peter McKnight, said the man was not a public figure and sharing his identity would mean nothing to the public, but it would be a huge concern to the man and his family.
McKnight told the hearing it was interesting how the only person seeking the suppression lift was the defendant, whereas in other cases media applied for the name suppression to be lifted.
“This is only an interim measure, so what happens later on in trial is a different measure.”
Concerns were also raised about the man and a family member’s health as well as the potential adverse effects that sharing his name would have.
He argued that the precedent of lifting suppression may discourage others from making defamation claims against high profile people.
Mallard’s lawyer, Robert Stewart, told the hearing that the continuation of non-publication orders prevents full reporting and would result in one-sided stories, which would disadvantage Mallard.
“Media representatives should be free to provide fair and accurate reports.”
What a disgraceful act of continued bullying by Trevor Mallard.
He smeared this man, basically accused him of rape, and as a result he lost his job.
Now he wants him named. It is nothing less than oppressive behaviour by someone who is not even paying his own legal expenses.
That’s the problem with litigants where someone else is paying the bill; they can have these endless and expensive arguments in court without it ever affecting their own wallet. It is oppressive, but sadly pretty much the case in many defamation cases these days where one party or another is well funded.
I feel sorry for this guy; even if he wins, he will lose as the costs will far out weigh the award.