The NZ Truth is fighting the record $675,000 damages awarded to entertainer Ray Columbus after a jury found the tabloid newspaper defamed him.
Independent Newspapers Ltd, which publishes Truth, has filed a motion in the High Court at Auckland seeking to set aside the judgment in relation to the damages, not
the issue of liability.
Three weeks ago, a jury granted the payout to 57-year-old Columbus following a Truth article which suggested he had ripped off the Auckland Rugby Union.
The newspaper accused Columbus of billing the union for $70,000 in 1997 after it hired his event management company to arrange entertainment for an All Blacks-Springboks match at Eden Park.
Columbus delivered under budget at $69,040. His own fee was $5000.
The damages are the highest awarded in a defamation case against print media.
The managing director of INL, Mike Robson, said filing the motion was a "marker in the ground" which gave the company time to consider where it went from here.
"We have a view that the damages are excessive and we will argue that in court."
The motion will be heard by Justice Anderson, who heard the original case. If unsuccessful, INL can go to the Court of Appeal.
For Columbus and his wife, Linda, the motion is another setback in what they describe as a harrowing time.
Columbus said the jury had awarded the damages for distress, the effect on his reputation and the financial losses he had suffered and it should end there.
"It's very disappointing but it's consistent with what we've had to live with for [over] two years."
He said that by questioning only the damages, INL had accepted liability for the article. He and his wife say they will fight the motion.
"It's cost us $150,000 so far so we can't back down now," said Mrs Columbus. "We've had great feedback - the phone has rung non-stop."
- NZPA
