Diana Foo v Woo Mui Chan

[2025] SGHC 54 High Court (General Division) 28 March 2025 • HC/S 510/2021 • 91 min read

52 cases cited (36 SG, 16 foreign) Cited by 1 case

Catchwords

Tort — Defamation — Damages — Assessment of damages Tort — Defamation — Damages — Whether loss of earnings, business and clientele falls under general damages or special damages

Practice Areas

Tort

Judges (1)

S Mohan Delivered

Counsel (5)

A C Fergusson Law Corporation Firm Dodwell & Co LLC Firm Alfred Dodwell Counsel Plaintiff Tan Yu Poh Susan Counsel Defendant Tan-Goh Song Gek Alice Counsel Defendant

Parties (2)

Diana Foo Plaintiff Woo Mui Chan Defendant

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC 54 is a High Court (General Division) decision dated 28 March 2025 concerning Tort, specifically addressing defamation. The judgment was delivered by S Mohan. The case was brought by Diana Foo (plaintiff) against Woo Mui Chan (defendant). Legal representation was provided by Dodwell & Co LLC and A C Fergusson Law Corporation. The judgment cites 52 cases (36 Singapore, 16 foreign) and references 2 statutory provisions, including the Defamation Act and the Oaths and Declarations Act. This decision has been cited by 1 subsequent judgment in the dataset.

Summary

Following a finding of liability for two defamatory statements — one posted on Facebook about a beauty salon owner and another to the salon's landlord — the court assessed damages at $41,250 in total. The award comprised $25,000 general damages and $6,250 aggravated damages for the first statement and $8,000 general damages and $2,000 aggravated damages for the second, rejecting the plaintiff's claim for $350,000 as largely based on bare assertions.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC 54?

[2025] SGHC 54 (Diana Foo v Woo Mui Chan) is a High Court (General Division) decision from 28 March 2025 addressing Tort, specifically defamation. The judgment was delivered by S Mohan.

Who were the parties in Diana Foo v Woo Mui Chan?

The plaintiff in [2025] SGHC 54 was Diana Foo, and the defendant was Woo Mui Chan. Legal representation included A C Fergusson Law Corporation and Dodwell & Co LLC. The case was decided on 28 March 2025 in the High Court (General Division).

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC 54?

[2025] SGHC 54 was delivered by S Mohan in the High Court (General Division) on 28 March 2025. The case concerned Tort.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC 54 cite?

[2025] SGHC 54 cites 52 prior decisions, including 16 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Defamation Act, Oaths and Declarations Act. The decision has itself been cited by 1 subsequent judgment.

Statutes Cited

Defamation Act

s 1

Oaths and Declarations Act (Cap 211)

Cases Cited (52)

SG (5)

[2021] SGDC 206 [2021] SGHC 145 [2023] SGHC 221 [2024] SGHC 81 [2025] SGHC 11

SLR (31)

[1989] 2 SLR(R) 544 [1997] 3 SLR(R) 576 [2001] 1 SLR(R) 86 [2007] 1 SLR(R) 453 [2007] 3 SLR(R) 537 [2008] 2 SLR(R) 491 [2009] 1 SLR(R) 642 [2010] 2 SLR 860 [2010] 3 SLR 110 [2010] 4 SLR 357 [2012] 1 SLR 506 [2012] 4 SLR 231 [2013] 4 SLR 629 [2014] 1 SLR 639 [2015] 4 SLR 1159 [2015] 4 SLR 667 [2015] 5 SLR 1104 [2016] 1 SLR 1321 [2016] 4 SLR 977 [2017] 1 SLR 918 [2018] 2 SLR 249 [2021] 4 SLR 1128 [2022] 1 SLR 689 [2022] 3 SLR 924 [2022] 4 SLR 1253 [2023] 2 SLR 235 [2023] 3 SLR 1301 [2023] 5 SLR 445 [2024] 4 SLR 580 [2024] 5 SLR 194 [2024] 5 SLR 316

UK (15)

[1891] 2 Ch 269 [1892] 2 QB 524 [1941] 1 KB 507 [1963] 1 WLR 1397 [1964] AC 1129 [1964] AC 371 [1972] AC 1027 [1991] 1 QB 283 [1997] QB 586 [2004] 1 AC 628 [2007] 1 WLR 113 [2008] 1 WLR 1 [2013] 1 WLR 1015 [2013] EWHC 3150 [2018] 4 WLR 1

MY (1)

[1982] 2 MLJ 156

Cited By (1)

[2025] SGHC 125

Diana Foo v Woo Mui Chan

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC 54)