Court of Appeal refuses permission to appeal against meaning ruling
The science writer Simon Singh has been refused leave to appeal by the Court of Appeal in relation to a ruling on meaning in a libel claim brought against him by the British Chiropractic Association.
The Judge, Mr Justice Eady, ruled that a reference to the British Chiropractic Association in an article by Mr Singh meant that the Association, one of the bodies which represents the interests of chiropractors in the UK, knowingly promoted treatments that were bogus and ineffective. The Judge went on to rule that that was an assertion of fact rather an expression of opinion so that Mr Singh would not be permitted to defend his words as fair comment. He refused Mr Singh leave to appeal.
Mr Singh, whose case has attracted a great deal of attention in the scientific community, may still be able to seek leave from the Court of Appeal at an oral hearing.
5RB‘s Adrienne Page QC is acting for Mr Singh.
Links
- Simon Singh refused leave to appeal – Times
- Simon Singh refused permission to appeal – Jack of Kent (blog)