Lange v Atkinson

Lange v Atkinson
Court	Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Full case name	D.R. Lange Appellant v (1) J.B. Atkinson and (2) Australian Consolidated Press NZ Limited Respondents
Citation(s)	[1997] 2 NZLR 22 (HC), [1998] 3 NZLR 424 (CA), [2000] 1 NZLR 257 (PC), [2000] 3 NZLR 385
Transcript(s)	Privy Council judgment Court of Appeal judgment (2000)
Court membership
Judge(s) sitting	Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead, Lord Steyn, Lord Cooke of Thorndon, Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Hobhouse of Woodborough
Keywords
negligence

Lange v Atkinson [1997] 2 NZLR 22 (HC), [1998] 3 NZLR 424 (CA), [2000] 1 NZLR 257 (PC), [2000] 3 NZLR 385 is a cited case in New Zealand regarding defamation claims in tort.

Background

Atkinson, a political columnist, did an article on the 4th Labour Government in the North and South magazine.

Former Prime Minister David Lange found the article defamatory, and sued Atkinson, and the magazines publisher ACP for defamation, which they filed a defence of free speech.

Lange spent the next 4 years trying to get their defence struck out.

Footnote: Besides featuring in NZ case law for defamation, David Lange also featured in Australian defamation case law in Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520; 145 ALR 96 (HCA)