A former SA health department researcher who successfully sued internet giant Google for defamation has been awarded $100,000 in damages, plus interest.

Janice Duffy, 59, claimed articles published on the "Ripoff Report" website from 2007 defamed her and that Google had denied her request to remove the material from its search engine.

She launched a civil lawsuit against Google in the South Australian Supreme Court in 2011.

The court has previously heard that Dr Duffy became aware in July 2009 that searches for her name on Google resulted in the display of extracts from — and hyperlinks to — the "Ripoff Report" material.

In September 2009 she told Google about the material and requested it be removed.

But the court heard Google declined her request.

She then launched the lawsuit.

The court heard Google progressively removed the display of extracts from and links to the "Ripoff Report" from its Australian website.

Dr Duffy also claimed that autocomplete search terms attached to her name on the search engine were also defamatory.

Google fought the case, arguing defences of innocent dissemination, qualified privilege, justification and contextual truth.

In his judgment in October, Justice Malcolm Blue struck out several of the defences.

He ruled that Google did publish defamatory material about Dr Duffy.

Justice Blue has now awarded Dr Duffy $100,000 in damages plus $15,000 in interest.

Her lawyer, Paul Heywood-Smith, has also asked the Supreme Court to make an order for costs to cover the legal fees his client has paid during the lengthy battle.

The court has reserved its decision on costs.

'I stood up to them and for that I'm pleased'

Dr Duffy has tweeted that if Google was to launch any appeal, she would respond with a "cross appeal".

Outside court, she described Wednesday's ruling as "vindication".

"It's been a long battle and it's not over," she said.

"After the trial I couldn't get off the couch for three weeks ... but it's something that has to be done.

"I think that they thought that they could make me go away. I'm stubborn.

"I stood up to them and for that I'm pleased. I beat the bastards."

Dr Duffy represented herself during the trial earlier this year, after initially being represented by lawyers.

Since the trial she has again hired legal representation.

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