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- #21
Cherish free speech while you still have it.
"Restaurant owners win libel damages over scathing review after 11 year legal battle
Freedom of speech fears in Australia after newspaper loses epic libel battle after restaurant collapsed.
The 2003 review, by Matthew Evans, in the Sydney Morning Herald of plush waterside restaurant Coco Roco provided colourful descriptions of the “soggy blackberries”, “overcooked potatoes”, “outstandingly dull” roast chicken and limoncello oysters that “jangle like a car crash”, before warning readers – perhaps unnecessarily - to “stay home”.
Evans, who quit reviewing and moved to the island state of Tasmania about six years ago, said the ruling marked “a sad day for Australian food journalism”.
“I think reviewers and publications become fearful of being sued,” he told The Hobart Mercury.
“You wouldn’t wish being sued on anybody, and being sued for doing your job. The tragedy is I no longer write restaurant reviews.”
Restaurant owners win libel damages over scathing review after 11 year legal battle - Telegraph
"Restaurant owners win libel damages over scathing review after 11 year legal battle
Freedom of speech fears in Australia after newspaper loses epic libel battle after restaurant collapsed.
The 2003 review, by Matthew Evans, in the Sydney Morning Herald of plush waterside restaurant Coco Roco provided colourful descriptions of the “soggy blackberries”, “overcooked potatoes”, “outstandingly dull” roast chicken and limoncello oysters that “jangle like a car crash”, before warning readers – perhaps unnecessarily - to “stay home”.
Evans, who quit reviewing and moved to the island state of Tasmania about six years ago, said the ruling marked “a sad day for Australian food journalism”.
“I think reviewers and publications become fearful of being sued,” he told The Hobart Mercury.
“You wouldn’t wish being sued on anybody, and being sued for doing your job. The tragedy is I no longer write restaurant reviews.”
Restaurant owners win libel damages over scathing review after 11 year legal battle - Telegraph
