John Laws has retired, but 2UE is still fighting some of his battles. In the continuing defamation case against 2UE and Laws, brought by Ray Chesterton, 2UE lawyers this week argued that comments against Chesterton “were abusive but not defamatory.”

The Daily Telegraph writer sued Laws over comments he made on air in August 2005 where he called Chesterton “a creep and a bombastic, beer-bellied buffoon.”

2UE’s appeal to the New South Wales Court of Appeal was dismissed, but 2UE has appealed, saying the original trial judge “erred” by drawing a distinction between personal defamation and business defamation. 2UE’s counsel, Richard McHugh argued an ordinary, reasonable listener would not think the comments were defamatory, but rather mere vulgar abuse.

The hearing is continuing.