AMA welcomes Supreme Court ruling
AMA Federal President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, has welcomed a Supreme Court jury finding that she was defamed by imputations contained an article in The Weekend Australian on 2 September 2000.
Counsel for Dr Phelps argued 'the article imputed that she had sought to have partner Jackie Stricker employed by the AMA on a grossly inflated salary, and that Dr Phelps had a gross conflict of interest'.
At the conclusion of a hearing on 4 October, the jury found that such imputations did arise from the article and that they were defamatory.
"An injustice was done and this is the first step in correcting that injustice," Dr Phelps said.
Dr Phelps said the newspaper had been warned at the time that the story was untrue, but it chose to go ahead and publish, damaging her reputation.
"The paper apologised some months later, but that was too late, and I made it very clear I would proceed with the action," Dr Phelps said.
The Weekend Australian apologised to Dr Phelps, Ms Stricker and the Federal AMA last November for the errors.
A Supreme Court judge will determine damages for Dr Phelps.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076