Cases

Wakefield v Ford & Anor

Facts

The Claimant, a will writer, sued the Defendants, a solicitor and firm of solicitors, for libel in respect of a letter written by the First Defendant on 12 January 2006 to another firm of solicitors accusing the Claimant of negligence in a different case and stating that this negligence had been admitted by him or on his behalf. Qualified privilege was upheld in September 2007. The trial was due to take place on 12 January 2009. However, in December 2008 the Claimant indicated that he did not want to proceed. He applied to be allowed to accept in December 2008 an 'offer' he said had been made by the Defendants in August 2008 and was still open for acceptance. He stated that, if unsuccesful, he would discontinue his claim. The Defendants opposed the application and applied for indemnity costs and a payment on account of costs.

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