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Sir Donald Brash Seeks $750K from Hooton Over Defamation

6/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

Sir Donald Brash seeks $750,000 from Simon Hooton and demands a full trial despite the apology.
Hooton’s lawyer says the apology erases harm and justifies nominal damages.
Brash’s counsel argues that remarks labeling him a ‘fundamentally bad person’ and Hobson’s Pledge ‘profoundly dishonest’ caused serious reputational injury.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment, noting the hearing cited the 2006 Jameel principle on dismissing defamation claims with negligible readership.

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Story summary

Sir Donald Brash seeks $750,000 from Simon Hooton and demands a full trial despite the apology.
Hooton’s lawyer says the apology erases harm and justifies nominal damages.
Brash’s counsel argues that remarks labeling him a ‘fundamentally bad person’ and Hobson’s Pledge ‘profoundly dishonest’ caused serious reputational injury.
The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment, noting the hearing cited the 2006 Jameel principle on dismissing defamation claims with negligible readership.