Cases

Tesco Stores Ltd v Guardian News & Media Ltd and Rusbridger

Facts

Tesco (T) brought claims in libel and malicious falsehood against the publisher of the Guardian (G) and its editor (R) in respect of articles which alleged T had set up a £1bn off-shore corporation tax avoidance scheme. G & R admitted that the story was false and made an offer of amends which at the date of the hearing T had neither accepted nor rejected. G & R applied for an order compelling T to either accept or reject the offer within 8 days of the hearing (ie before service of the Reply or disclosure) and that the malicious falsehood claim be stayed. T argued as a matter of statutory construction that it was entitled to keep the offer open as long as it wished. G & R also applied to amend their defence to include allegations of corporation tax avoidance, albeit in a lower sum and of a different kind.

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