Cases

Merelie v Newcastle Primary Health Care Trust & Others (No.3)

Held

The letter of 14 January was not defamatory of the Claimant. It meant no more than that there was no evidence that the allegations against the Claimant were false, and this, in context, was not defamatory of her. Mr Smith was not malicious and the letter was published on a privileged occasion. The letter did not bear the Lucas Box meaning advanced by the Defendant (that the Claimant was guilty of conduct which justified her dismissal), but had it done so, it would have been substantially true in that meaning. There was no campaign of harassment against the Claimant. The claims for breach of contract and damages for personal injury also failed.

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