House of Hancock case back in courtroom

Lawyers for Channel Nine and production company Cordell Jigsaw were back in the NSW Supreme Court today in the latest legal round against billionaire Gina Rinehart over the House of Hancock miniseries.

Gina Rinehart is seeking damages and a permanent injunction to prevent the program and about four minutes of cuts from being broadcast or sold via DVD.

Fairfax reports Barrister Sandy Dawson, for Cordell Jigsaw, said: “There is a box of documents and she wants to litigate issues such as the depiction of her weight over time, whether her mother’s hair was a particular colour and whether her father cheated at tennis.”

To be successful in her claim for injurious or malicious falsehood, Mrs Rinehart has to prove the alleged false statements were motivated by malice and intended to cause harm to her business. She also has to prove actual damage, such as loss of business.

Tom Blackburn, SC, for Mrs Rinehart said his client’s case would rest only on her evidence.

Last year Nine and Cordell Jigsaw agreed to edits of around 4 minutes from the second episode of the miniseries, prior to it airing.

The case resumes in April.