Cases

Al Rajhi Banking & Investment Corp v Wall Street Journal Europe

Held

Permission to amend refused. In the light of well-known principles it was clear that the three Lucas-Box meanings advanced were as they stood unacceptable. The first meaning involved an accusation of guilt by mere association. The second meaning sought to rely on the mere (alleged) fact that the bank was the subject of "US law enforcement interest", which was not defamatory and could not afford a defence in itself. The third meaning relied on the alleged likelihood that such "interest" had been communicated to SAMA; but the fact of such communication was neither here nor there. The particulars of justification also fell foul of well-established principles in a number of other respects.

Also