Cases

Solicitor General v Yaxley-Lennon [2024] EWHC 2732 (KB), [2025] EWCA Civ 476

Mr Yaxley-Lennon admitted 10 breaches of an injunction imposed on him by Nicklin J in the libel case of Hijazi v Yaxley-Lennon, including publishing online a film that repeated the libel. Johnson J committed him to prison for 18 months (less 3 days for time spent in custody on remand) comprising a punitive element of 14 months and a coercive element of 4 months, which would be remitted if Mr Yaxley-Lennon were to remove his film from his social media accounts and take all possible steps to secure its removal from other online sources. Mr Yaxley-Lennon brought an out-of-time appeal against the penalty, contending that, because he was being segregated from other prisoners for his own safety, prison conditions were harsher than Johnson J had anticipated and, in reliance on a recently obtained psychologist’s report, that his imprisonment had caused his mental health to deteriorate and that he had been suffering from undiagnosed ADHD at the time of sentence. The Court of Appeal granted an extension of time and permitted reliance on the psychologist’s report but dismissed the appeal. The prison conditions were not materially harsher or more onerous than the Judge foresaw. There had been some evidence about Mr Yaxley-Lennon’s mental health before Johnson J and the new medical evidence did not show either a significant exacerbation of a known condition or a material new factor.

[2025] EWCA Civ 476 -

Judge Lady Chief Justice Lady Carr, Edis LJ, Warby LJ (appeal); Johnson J (KB)

Wei & Ors v Long & Ors [2025] EWHC 158 (KB)

defamation – jurisdiction – publishers at common law – s.10 Defamation Act 2013 – s.13 Defamation Act 2013

[2025] EWHC 158 (KB) - High Court

Judge Mrs Justice Hill

Iqbal v Geo TV Limited

[2024] EWCA Civ 1566 - Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Judge Underhill, Dingemans and Warby LJJ

Vince v Associated Newspapers Ltd

Libel – strike out – meaning – the rule in Charleston

[2024] EWHC 1806 (KB) - High Court

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

Ryland v Channel Four Television Corporation [2024] UKFTT 603

The Appellant made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for information about advertising and sponsorship revenue received by Channel 4 from Sainsbury’s. The Information Commissioner upheld Channel Four’s refusal to provide the information on the basis that it was held for the purposes of journalism, art or literature and therefore not held in Channel Four’s capacity as a public authority under the Act (i.e. that the so-called “derogation” applied). On appeal, the Appellant argued that he was seeking only aggregated information, not the “building blocks” consisting of specific figures for specific programme sponsorships etc, and that there was insufficient connection between that aggregated information and the purposes of journalism etc to engage the derogation. The First-tier Tribunal disagreed, holding that it was necessary to consider whether the “building blocks” were pieces of information held for the purposes of journalism etc. Having heard detailed evidence about how modern TV advertising works, the Tribunal accepted Channel Four’s case and upheld the Information Commissioner’s Decision Notice.

[2024] UKFTT 603 (GRC) -

Judge HHJ Moira Macmillan, Ms Kate Grimley-Evans, Ms Naomi Matthews

Harcombe v Associated Newspapers Ltd

Defamation - preliminary issues - trial of public interest defence under s.4 Defamation Act 2013 - Curistan - reporting privilege under s.15 Defamation Act 1996 - privilege for publication of a summary of a peer-reviewed scientific article under s.6(5) Defamation Act 2013 - meaning - fact or opinion - honest opinion - not believing an opinion under s.3(5) Defamation Act 2013

[2024] EWHC 1523 (KB) - High Court

Judge Nicklin J

Mueen-Uddin v SSHD

Libel – Hunter abuse – Jameel abuse – Rule in Dingle

[2024] UKSC 21 - UKSC

Judge Lord Reed (President), Lord Sales, Lord Hamblen, Lord Burrows, Lord Richards

George v Cannell

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

[2024] UKSC 19; [2024] 3 WLR 153 - Supreme Court

Judge Lord Hodge, Lord Hamblen, Lord Leggatt, Lord Burrows, Lord Richards

Various Claimants v NGN (TPI)

TPI - Phone Hacking Litigation - Limitation

[2024] EWHC 902 (Ch) - High Court, Business and Property Courts

Judge Fancourt J

Clifford v Millicom Services UK Ltd & Ors

Reporting Restriction Orders – Rule 50 – Article 8 ECHR – Whistleblowing – Confidentiality

2201291/2020 - Employment Tribunal

Judge Employment Judge Klimov

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