Cases

Blake and ors v Fox

Libel – serious harm – social media – causation – qualified privilege

[2024] EWHC 146 (KB) - High Court (King’s Bench Division)

Judge Collins Rice J

Bermuda Press (Holdings) Limited v Tamine

Breach of confidence – misuse of private information – interim injunctions

[2023] CA (Bda) 28 Civ - Court of Appeal of Bermuda

Judge Sir Christopher Clarke P, Sir Anthony Smellie JA, Dame Elizabeth Gloster JA

Cooper v Evans & anor

Electoral law - s.106 injunction - false statements of fact - personal character or political

[2023] EWHC 2555 (KB) - High Court

Judge Jay J

Blake & ors v Fox (CA)

Natural & Ordinary Meaning - Fact or Opinion - Definition - Trials of Preliminary Issue

[2023] EWCA Civ 1000 - Court of Appeal

Judge Nicola Davies, Arnold & Warby LJJ

Green v (1) Hannah-Wood & (2) Rouse

Election Petition - Representation of the People Act - Local Government Act - frustration - declarations - Special Case - Summary Judgment - Election Petition Rules

[2023] EWHC 2034 (KB) - Divisional Court of the KBD

Judge Jefford & Soole JJ

Wright v McCormack (CA)

Libel – Reduction of general damages for litigation misconduct

[2023] EWCA Civ 892 - Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Judge Singh, Andrews and Warby LJJ

Davidoff & Ors v Hargrave

Defamation – Strike out – Reference innuendo – Ordinary reasonable reader

[2023] EWHC 1825 (KB) - King’s Bench Division, Media and Communications List

Judge Heather Williams J

McGee v Lewis

Libel – Harassment – Privacy – Judgment in Default – Injunctive relief

[2023] EWHC 1813 (KB) - High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division

Judge Collins Rice J

Chishti v Spottiswoode & Ors

Defamation – preliminary issue – single meaning –- context – hyperlink – Chase levels

[2023] EWHC 1808 (KB) - Kings Bench Division, Media & Communications List

Judge Collins Rice J

R (Alexander) v Secretary of State for Justice

Judicial review – Prisoner communications – Irrationality – Article 10 – PSI 37/2010

[2023] EWHC 1407 (Admin) - King’s Bench Division, Administrative Court

Judge Mr Justice Andrew Baker

Amersi v Leslie and another

Libel - Serious harm under s.1 Defamation Act 2013

[2023] EWHC 1368 (KB) - High Court, King's Bench Division

Judge Mr Justice Nicklin

Lownie v FCDO

Freedom of Information - FOIA - National Security - Public Records - National Archives - transferred public record - historical documents

[2023] UKFTT 00397 (GRC) - First Tier Tribunal

Judge Judge Neville, sitting with Tribunal Members Cosgrove & Chafer

Armstrong Watson LLP v Person(s) Unknown

Interim injunction - Ransomware attack - data breach - blackmail - breach of confidence - private hearing

[2023] EWHC 762 (KB); [2023] 4 WLR 41 - King's Bench Division, Media and Communications List

Judge Ritchie J

Muhammad v Daily The News International

Jurisdiction - s.10 Defamation Act 2013 - service - CPR Part 6 - author, editor & publisher

[2023] EWHC 674 (KB) - High Court

Judge Master Cook

R (MNL) v Westminster Magistrates’ Court

Reporting restrictions – Article 8 – open justice – Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

[2023] EWHC 587 (Admin) - King’s Bench Division, Administrative Court

Judge Lord Justice Warby; Mr Justice Mostyn

Clifford v Millicom Services UK Ltd

Reporting Restrictions - Rule 50, Employment Tribunals Regulations 2013 - Article 8 - Employment Tribunal

[2023] EWCA Civ 50 - Court of Appeal

Judge Lord Justice Lewis; Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing; Lord Justice Warby

Stoute v News Group Newspapers Limited

Misuse of private information – interim injunction – return dates

[2023] EWHC 232 (KB) - King’s Bench Division, Media and Communications List

Judge Johnson J

Soriano v Le Point & Anor

Libel - Specific disclosure - Subscriber data

[2022] EWHC 3370 (KB) - High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division

Judge Mrs Justice Hill

Pendragon Plc v Person(s) Unknown

Breach of Confidence – Blackmail – Injunction Against Person(s) Unknown – Application for continuation of interim injunction on return date – Default judgment – Derogations from Open Justice

[2022] EWHC 2985 (KB) - King’s Bench Division, Media and Communications List

Judge Collins Rice J

Hinduja v Hinduja

Open justice – reporting restrictions – Article 8 – Article 10 – Court of Protection

[2022] EWCA Civ 1492 - Court of Appeal

Judge Peter Jackson LJ, Baker LJ, Warby LJ

Smith v Backhouse

Enforceability and acceptance of undertakings - Settlement

[2022] EWHC 3011 (KB) - High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division

Judge Mr Justice Nicklin

Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney

Libel – Defence under s.2 of the Defamation Act 2013

[2022] EWHC 2017 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division

Judge Steyn J

Guardian News & Media v The Executor of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh (deceased) & Her Majesty’s Attorney-General

Open Justice - Non-Contentious Probate Proceedings - Whether the media has a right to be heard in proceedings in which it is not a party - Whether the President of the Family Division should have held a private hearing not on notice to the media - the role of the Attorney-General

[2022] EWCA Civ 1081 - Court of Appeal, Civil Division

Judge The Master of the Rolls, The President of the Queen's Bench Division, Lady Justice King

George v Cannell (CA)

Malicious falsehood - proper interpretation of s.3, Defamation Act 1952 - whether s.3 requires a claimant to prove actual pecuniary damage or only its likelihood at the time of publication - whether damages for injury to feelings are recoverable if pecuniary damage sustained is only nominal

[2022] EWCA Civ 1067 - Court of Appeal

Judge Underhill (V-P of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)), Warby & Snowden LJJ

Soriano v Le Point & Anor

Libel – summary judgment – strike out – serious harm

[2022] EWHC 1763 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division

Judge Mrs Justice Collins Rice

(1) Kumlin (2) EEW Eco Energy World plc v (1) Jonsson (2) Agerman (3) Östlund (4) Realtid Media AB

Libel - jurisdiction - centre of interests - Brussels Recast Regulation - serious harm - serious financial loss - rule against Reflective Loss - holding companies - trading reputation - rule in Marinari - causation - applicable law - double-actionability - eCommerce Directive

[2022] EWHC 1095 (QB) - High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, Media & Communications List

Judge Julian Knowles J

BW Legal Services Limited v Glassdoor Inc

Norwich Pharmacal relief - Allegedly defamatory posts - Whether a declaration should be made that the court had no jurisdiction to try the claim because no valid service had been effected - Whether a declaration should be made that the court should not exercise its jurisdiction because of an exclusive jurisdiction clause in the Defendant's Terms of Use and/or because it was contended that the Claimant obtained an Order improperly or unfairly

[2022] EWHC 979 (QB) - Queen's Bench Division

Judge Mr Justice Jay

Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney

Libel – disclosure – journalistic sources – section 10 Contempt of Court Act 1981 – Article 10 ECHR – waiver – witness summonses

[2022] EWHC 1209 (QB) - High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, Media & Communications List

Judge Steyn J

The Ince Group plc v Person(s) Unknown

Interim Injunction application - Ransonware attack - Data breach - blackmail - breach of confidence - private hearing

[2022] EWHC 808 (QB) - King's Bench Division, Media and Communications List

Judge Mr Justice Saini

Attorney General v BBC

Open justice – whether hearing in public or private pursuant to CPR 39.2 – national security

[2022] EWHC 380 (QB) - High Court (QBD)

Judge Chamberlain J

ZXC v Bloomberg LP

Misuse of Private Information – Breach of Confidence – Data Protection Act 1998 – Article 8 – Article 10 – criminal investigations – letter of request – journalism

[2022] UKSC 5 - Supreme Court

Judge Lord Reed, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Sales, Lord Hamblen, Lord Stephens

Vardy v Rooney

Joinder – Disclosure – Amendments – Further Information

[2022] EWHC 304 (QB) - High Court (Media & Communications List) (QBD)

Judge Steyn J

Stadler v Currys Group Ltd

Data protection – misuse of private information – breach of confidence – negligence – smart devices – Jameel – de minimis – allocation

[2022] EWHC 160 (QB) - High Court, Queen’s Bench Division

Judge HHJ Lewis (sitting as a Judge of the High Court)

Blake, Seymour & Thorp v Fox

Trials of Preliminary Issue - Meaning - Honest Opinion - Default Judgment - Relief From Sanctions - Trial by Jury - Shadow Pleadings

[2021] EWHC 3463 (QB) - High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, Media & Communications List

Judge Senior Master Fontaine

Soriano v Forensic News LLC & ors

Libel – Jurisdiction – Service Out – s.9 Defamation Act 2013 – Malicious Falsehood – s.3 Defamation Act 1952 – Loutchansky Malice – data protection – GDPR – Data Protection Act 2018 – UKGDPR – territorial applicability

[2021] EWCA Civ 1952 - Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Judge Dame Victoria Sharp PQBD, Elisabeth Laing & Warby LJJ

Mahmudov & Mahmudova v Goni Sanzberro & ors

Libel – Jurisdiction – Brussels Recast Regulation – Centre of Interests

[2021] EWHC 3433 (QB) - High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, Media & Communications List

Judge Collins Rice J

Abdulrazaq v Hassan & Ors

Libel - Publication of reasons for exclusion of individuals from mosque - Qualified privilege - Duty/interest - Reply to attack - Malice - Summary judgment

[2021] EWHC 3252 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division, Media & Communications List

Judge Jay J

Johnson v Eastlight Community Homes

Data Protection – Misuse of Private Information – Breach of Confidence – Negligence – Jameel – De Minimis – Allocation

[2021] EWHC 3069 (QB) - High Court (QBD)

Judge Master Thornett

Wright v McCormack

Defamation – libel – amendment – serious harm – Dingle – Burstein

[2021] EWHC 2671 (QB) - Queen's Bench Division

Judge Julian Knowles J

Rolfe v Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP

Data protection – harm – de minimis - summary judgment

[2021] EWHC 2809 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Divisions (Media & Communications)

Judge Master McCloud

Farhan Junejo v New Vision TV Limited

Preliminary issue – whether publication occurred within jurisdiction – litigation bias – delay in issuing – destruction of records

[2021] EWHC 2366 (QB) - High Court (QBD)

Judge Murray J

Ashley v Times Newspapers Limited

Defamation - Libel - Trial of Preliminary Issues - Meaning - Defamatory imputation - Statement of fact / expression of opinion - Whether the repetition rule is engaged - Multiple publications

[2021] EWHC 2082 (QB) - Queen's Bench Division

Judge Saini J

Cilliers v Gibraltar Health Authority

Libel – Malicious Falsehood – Slander - Strike out – Jurisdiction of Employment Tribunal - Johnson exclusion area – Summary judgment – Jameel abuse

2021/GSC/19 - The Supreme Court of Gibraltar

Judge Restano J

Blackledge v Persons Unknown

Defamation – Libel – Harassment – Data Protection – Quantum – Damages – Injunction – Section 13 order

[2021] EWHC 1994 (QB) - High Court, Queen’s Bench Division

Judge Saini J

Greenstein v Campaign Against Antisemitism

Defamation - Libel - Malice- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 - Spent Convictions - Whether the malice plea relating to spent convictions was correctly struck out

[2021] EWCA Civ 1006 - Court of Appeal, Civil Division

Judge Popplewell, Dingemans, Carr LLJ

Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney

Libel – summary judgment – strike out – social media – proportionality

[2021] EWHC 1888 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division

Judge Steyn J

Hodges v Naish

Slander - preliminary issues - publication - defamatory meaning - slanders actionable per se - serious harm - limitation

[2021] EWHC 1805 (QB) - Queen's Bench Division (Winchester District Registry)

Judge HHJ Richard Parkes QC (sitting as a Judge of the High Court)

Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd

Libel - publication on matter of public interest - s.4, Defamation Act 2013 - damages

[2021] EWHC 1797 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division, Media and Communications List

Judge Nicklin J

Corbyn v Millett

Preliminary issue – whether statement fact or opinion – bare comment – whether statement defamatory at common law

[2021] EWCA Civ 567 - Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Judge Vos MR, Sharp P, Warby LJ

Soriano v Silverstein

Libel – section 9 Defamation Act 2013 – jurisdiction – service out – forum conveniens – service gateways – centre of interests

[2021] EWHC 873 (QB) - High Court, Queen’s Bench Division

Judge Johnson J

Lady Colin Campbell v MGN Ltd

Defamation - Meaning - Ambiguity - Extraneous Evidence - General Knowledge

[2021] EWHC 601 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division

Judge Johnson J

Parris v Ajayi & Ors

Libel - Malicious Falsehood - Strike out - Amendments - Henderson v Henderson abuse of process - Consent to disciplinary procedure within employment context - Friend v Civil Aviation Authority- Claim for losses flowing from dismissal - Jurisdiction of Employment Tribunal - Johnson exclusion area - Johnson v Unisys Ltd - Jameel abuse of process - Failure to provide reference

[2021] EWHC 285 (QB) - Queen's Bench Division

Judge Richard Spearman QC (Sitting as a Judge of the Queens Bench Division)

Duchess of Sussex v Associated Newspapers Ltd

Misuse of private information-breach of copyright-summary judgment and/or strike out of defence

[2021] EWHC 273 (Ch) - High Court, Chancery Division, Business and Property Courts, Intellectual Property List

Judge Warby J

Tinkler v Ferguson & others

Malicious Falsehood – Abuse of Process – Section 3 Defamation Act 1952

[2021] EWCA Civ 18 - Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Judge Peter Jackson & Dingemans LLJ, Sir Richard McCombe

(1) Williams (2) Wickham-Jones (3) Lownie v (1) IC (2) FCDO

FOIA - exemptions - national security - Information Commissioner's Guidance - "in the alternative" - public law

[2021] UKFTT 2019_212 (GRC) - First Tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber - Information Rights)

Judge Judge Anthony Snelson & Judge Moira Macmillan

Wright v Granath (CA)

Defamation – Jurisdiction – Lis Pendens – Lugano Convention – Negative Declaratory Relief

[2021] EWCA Civ 28 - Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Judge Moylan, Singh & Popplewell LJJ

Soriano v Forensic News & ors

Libel - section 9 Defamation Act 2013 - jurisdiction - service-out - forum conveniens - malicious falsehood - GDPR - data protection - establishment - extra-territoriality - service gateways - centre of interests

[2021] EWHC 56 (QB) - High Court (Media & Communications List)

Judge Jay J

True Vision Productions Ltd v Information Commissioner

Data Protection – Journalism Exemption (DPA 1998, s32) – Monetary Penalty Notices

EA/2019/0170 - First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber, Information Rights)

Judge Judge Edward Jacobs

Greenstein v Campaign against Antisemitism

Defamation - Libel - s3, Defamation Act 2013 - Honest Opinion - Malice - Truth - Spent Convictions - Whether the Defendant should be granted summary judgment - Whether the malice plea should be struck out - Data Protection - Misuse of Private Information - Spent Convictions- Abuse of Process

[2020] EWHC 2951 - Queen's Bench Division

Judge Mrs Justice Tipples

Depp v News Group Newspapers

libel – Defence under s.2 of the Defamation Act 2013

[2020] EWHC 2911 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Divisions (Media & Communications)

Judge Nicol J

Aven & Ors v Orbis Business Intelligence Ltd

Data Protection Act 1998 – s.35 exemption (legal purposes) – s.28 exemption (national security) – remedies

[2020] EWHC 1812 (QB) - High Court

Judge Warby J

Tinkler v Ferguson & Ors

Malicious Falsehood – Strike Out – Abuse of Process – Damage – Jameel abuse

[2020] EWHC 1467 (QB) - High Court

Judge Nicklin J

Serafin v Malkiewicz & Others

Libel - unfair judicial treatment - order for retrial - s 4 Defamation Act 2013 - defence of publication on matter of public interest

[2020] UKSC 23 - Supreme Court

Judge Lords Reed, Wilson, Briggs, Arden & Kitchin

JQL v NTP

Privacy - breach of confidence - social media - real and substantial tort - general damages - aggravated damages - injunctive relief

[2020] EWHC 1349 (QB) - High Court (Queen's Bench Division)

Judge HHJ Lewis (Sitting as a Judge of the High Court)

CWD v Nevitt & Ors

Privacy - defamation - anonymity - r16 order - reporting restrictions - s11 Contempt of Court Act 1981

[2020] EWHC 1289 (QB) - High Court (Queen's Bench Division)

Judge Steyn J

ZXC v Bloomberg LP

Misuse of Private Information – Breach of Confidence – Data Protection Act 1998 – Article 8 – Article 10 – criminal investigations – letter of request – journalism

[2020] EWCA Civ 611 - Court of Appeal

Judge Lord Justice Underhill; Lord Justice Bean; Lord Justice Simon

Sube v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Express Newspapers (No 3)

Harassment - Protection from Harassment Act 1997 - Harassment by Media Publications - Data Protection Act 1998 - s.10 Data Protection Act 1998 - s.14 Data Protection Act 1998

[2020] EWHC 1125 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division

Judge Warby J

Hunter v Cooper & ors

Defamation – Libel – Slander – Limitation – Strike-Out – Summary Judgment – Equality Act 2010 – contract – tort – County Court – transfer – Abuse of Process

[2020] EWHC 1105 (QB) - High Court (Queen's Bench Division)

Judge Senior Master Fontaine

BVG v LAR (No 2)

Blackmail - Privacy - Misuse of Private Information - Harassment - Summary Judgment - Final Injunction

[2020] EWHC 931 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division

Judge Nicol J

Re Al M (Reporting Restrictions Order)

Reporting Restrictions - Witness Anonymity - Right to Life (Art 2) - Prohibition against torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Art 3) - Freedom of Expression (Article 10) - Blackmail

[2020] EWHC 702 (Fam) - High Court, Family Division

Judge President of the Family Division , Sir Andrew McFarlane

Dimitri Rozanov v EFG Private Bank Limited

Open Justice – Access to Court Documents – Disclosure of documents to a non-party

2208031/2017 - Employment Tribunal

Judge Employment Judge Lewis

DSM SFG Group Holdings Limited v Kelly

Breach of Confidence - Harassment - Discharge of Undertakings to the Court - The extent, if at all, that it is permissible for a litigant to rely on confidential information, obtained by covert recording of another's premises, to support a legal claim before that litigant has established the right to use that information

[2019] EWCA Civ 2256 - Court of Appeal

Judge Lord Justice Davis; Lord Justice Simon

Anna Turley v Unite the Union and Stephen Walker

Libel – Trial – Liability for publication – Serious harm – Truth – Public interest – Assessment of damages – CPR Part 36

[2019] EWHC 3547 (QB) - High Court (QBD)

Judge Nicklin J

UKIP Ltd v Braine & Ors

Injunction - Without Notice - Blackmail - Disclosure - Breach of Confidence – s.12, Human Rights Act 1998 - Interim Non-Disclosure Orders

[2019] EWHC 3527 (QB) - High Court (QBD)

Judge Warby J

Kirkegaard v Smith

Defamation - Meaning - Honest Opinion - Preliminary Issue Trial

[2019] EWHC 2947 (QB) - High Court

Judge Julian Knowles J

UUU v BBB

Blackmail - Harassment - Legitimate Expectation of Privacy - ECHR Article 8 - "Without Prejudice" privilege - Anonymity - Private Hearing - Practice Guidance: Interim Non-Disclosure Orders

[2019] EWHC 3190 (QB) - High Court, Queen's Bench Division

Judge Steyn J

Chandler v O’Connor

Libel – Twitter – Summary Relief – Defamation Act 1996 – Assessment of Damages

[2019] EWHC 3181 (QB) - High Court (QBD)

Judge Nicklin J