A former New Zealand diplomat's bid to overturn a High Court judge's decision that quashed a 2013 jury verdict has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Lindsay Smallbone successfully sued four parties who were ordered to pay $270,000 in damages for publishing information about him in a book written by the journalist and publisher Ian Wishart.
Shortly after the trial, the High Court judge said new evidence had been presented that justified his setting aside the jury verdict and ordering a new trial.
That decision has now been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Mr Smallbone's lawyer, Peter McKnight, said he was now working on plans for a re-trial.
