Home / Crime and Justice / Sydney Agents Win $1M in Defamation Lawsuit
Sydney Agents Win $1M in Defamation Lawsuit
27 Jul
Summary
- Sydney court awards over $1 million in damages to real estate agents.
- Defamatory Facebook posts accused agents of dishonesty after a dispute.
- Company's small size allowed it to sue for defamation under Australian law.
A Sydney court recently awarded over $1 million in damages to two real estate agents and their agency, Paragon Realty Group. The award addresses defamatory Facebook posts published by a rival agent on her page, which reached approximately 15,000 followers. These posts, made in mid-2023, implied the agents and their company were untrustworthy and dishonest, particularly concerning referral fee payments.
Justice Alister Abadee found the posts were part of a malicious, sustained campaign by the rival agent, Puttarawadee Srimongkol, following a dispute over her referral fees. Paragon Realty received $850,000 for economic loss, while agent Peejay Capati was awarded $80,000 and Kedchada Chompuchan $100,000 for non-economic loss. The total damages amounted to $1.03 million.
The court also granted an injunction against Srimongkol to prevent future defamatory comments. This case highlights the significant financial repercussions of online defamation, especially when targeting professionals and their business integrity. The company's small employee count, under 10, was a key factor enabling it to pursue defamation proceedings in Australia.
