"Mr Koh's debt to the SSC arose from a dispute that started in 2009 when he was sued for defamation by four members of a previous management committee.

Club money was used to defend the lawsuit until 2012, when members voted to remove him and to recover the legal costs.

The club won a court battle in 2016 to get back the funds. Mr Koh was made a bankrupt by the SSC later that year."

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If you think you have a claim for defamation, you may wish to ask your lawyer:

(i) what are the damages (A) I am likely to be awarded?

(ii) what are the legal costs I am likely to be awarded* (B), if I win at trial?

(iii) what are the legal costs I am likely to incur* (C), if I win at trial?

(iv) assuming I succeed completely in my defamation claim, will A+B exceed C?

You may be surprised to learn that often, C exceeds A+B (i.e. even in a best case scenario where you succeed in your defamation claim, you will be left poorer off!)

* While a successful plaintiff will generally be awarded legal costs, the amount awarded is at the discretion of the Court. Often, the amount awarded will be less than the actual amount of costs incurred (i.e. the amount you have to pay your lawyers).