Young’s List barrister Justin Castelan represented the board of a powerful gun lobby group in a defamation trial before the Honourable Justice Dixon in the Supreme Court of Victoria against a former One Nation candidate.

The payout was the second highest payout awarded against an individual in Victoria.

The case hinged on the Plaintiffs — the Board and Chief Executive of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia’s Victorian branch — proving that Karel Zegers, who ran for One Nation in Bendigo at the 1998 federal election, was the author of several emails they said defamed them.

The emails, sent from two anonymous addresses, contained serious slurs against the Board and its Chief Executive Jack Wegman.

On Thursday 16 August 2018, the Honourable Justice Dixon awarded a payout of $810,000 to the plaintiffs, split between the eight board members and Mr Wegman.

“The imputations were serious slurs on the reputations of the plaintiffs,” his Honour said.

“The anonymous and confusing emails challenged the honesty, integrity and character of the plaintiffs in their professional context. They are mostly persons whose work and life depends upon their honesty, integrity and judgment.”

Mr Zegers’ conduct has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

To read the full article printed in The Age, please click here.

For further information about briefing Young’s List or to brief Justin, please call Tammy Young on +61 3 9225 6777 or after hours on +61 (0)414 523 515.