Cases

British Chiropractic Association v Singh (CA)

Facts

The BCA, a company representing chiropractors, sued for libel in respect of an article by S in the “Comment and Debate” section of The Guardian. The words complained of stated accurately that the BCA claimed that its members could help treat children with certain childhood disorders. The words complained of went on: “although there is not a jot of evidence. This organisation is the respectable face of the chiropractic profession and yet it happily promotes bogus treatments.” The Defendant pleaded fair comment and justification. At the trial of preliminary issues on meaning and comment the Judge upheld the BCA’s meanings, namely, that the words imputed to it that it knew that there was no evidence to support its claims and that the BCA therefore knowingly promoted bogus treatments. He described this as ”the plainest allegation of dishonesty”. He went on to rule that the words were accordingly fact not comment. S appealed both findings.

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