Section 1 appeal will not go ahead
The Claimants in Cooke v MGN [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB) have said they no longer wish to pursue the permission to appeal granted by Bean J in respect of his decision, handed down in August,… Read More »
Doctor wins libel claim against the Daily Mail
Mr Justice Dingemans today handed down judgment in the libel case of Serrano Garcia v Associated Newspapers Limited. The claim related to an article published in the Daily Mail on 21 April 2012 about a consultation between… Read More »
Chambers Bar Awards 2014
5RB is pleased to announce that Adam Speker has been named Defamation & Privacy Junior Barrister of the Year at the annual Chambers & Partners Bar Awards held on 2 October 2014. Adam was called to the Bar… Read More »
Slander Action Settles
In a statement in open court read today, David Harvey, the former Chairman of the Rowlands Castle Parish Council apologised for comments he made about Alan Craggs, the former Chairman of the Rowlands Parish Hall… Read More »
Permission to appeal on Defamation Act 2013
Permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal was granted at a hearing today before Bean J in Cooke v MGN [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB). In his written judgment, handed down in August, Bean J… Read More »
Defamation Act 2013 – First Cases
The High Court has heard and delivered judgments in the first cases brought under the Defamation Act 2013. In Cooke v MGN [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB), Bean J was asked to decide meaning and serious… Read More »
Mosque libel trial adjourned part-heard
A libel trial which arose from a dispute over the control of the Jamia and Al Noor mosques in Newport, South Wales, has been adjourned on its sixth day because the Fourth Defendant was too ill to continue…. Read More »
Witness Immunity Rule Extends to Harassment
The Court of Appeal has today ruled that an individual who makes a complaint to the police cannot be sued for malicious procurement of arrest or false imprisonment or rely upon the complaint to the… Read More »
Garcia v ANL trial begins in the High Court
The trial of the case of Garcia v Associated Newspapers Ltd began today in the High Court before Mr Justice Dingemans. The libel claim relates to an article published in the Daily Mail on 21… Read More »
Police Sergeant awarded £60,000 libel damages
Michael Appleyard, a Police Sergeant based in a small town in West Yorkshire, has won his libel claim against Neil Wilby in relation to words published on Mr Wilby’s website and tweets sent by him…. Read More »
Counsellor receives apology
Associated Newspapers has made a statement in open court apologising to Baylissa Frederick for the publication of articles about her in the Daily Mail and on MailOnline. Ms Frederick works as a counsellor. She is… Read More »
Line-dancing teacher receives apology from rival over libellous claims
My Myers, a popular teacher who runs a line-dancing school in Harrow, London, received an apology by way of a statement in open court from a competitor who had unjustly accused him of aggressive tactics and… Read More »
Russell Brand accepts libel damages and apology
A libel claim brought by comedian Russell Brand over an article published in the Sun on Sunday in November 2013 was concluded today with a statement in open court read before Mr Justice Tugendhat. The… Read More »
Judge awards Claimants £45,000 each
Mohammad Asghar, a Member of the Welsh Assembly, and Abdul Rahman Mujahid, a businessman active in the South Wales Muslim community, have each been awarded £45,000 following a trial in the Cardiff District Registry to… Read More »
New edition of Gatley on Libel and Slander out now
The new edition, fully updated and revised to include coverage of the Defamation Act 2013, is now available. The editing team on the 12th Ed. includes three members of 5RB: Godwin Busuttil and Adam Speker… Read More »
New time limit for defamation jury trial applications
The Civil Procedure Rules are to be amended to the effect that an application for trial by jury in a defamation claim will now have to be made at the first Case Management Conference. This… Read More »
Defamation Act 2013 to come into force on 1 January 2014
Justice Minister Lord McNally has confirmed that the Defamation Act 2013 will come into force on 1 January 2014. The Act received Royal Assent on 25 April of this year, but requires an Order from… Read More »
Costs in defamation and privacy proceedings
The Ministry of Justice has produced its consultation paper on costs in defamation and privacy claims. It is looking for practitioners’ views on proposed changes to the costs regime following the impending changes to CFAs… Read More »
Blackstone’s Guide to the Defamation Act 2013 published
Blackstone’s Guide to the Defamation Act 2013 is published by Oxford University Press today. The Guide combines analysis of the new Act from experts at 5RB, with full text of the Act, its Explanatory Notes… Read More »
MoJ Consultation on s.5 Operators of Websites Regulations Guidance
The Ministry of Justice is consulting on the Guidance and FAQs which accompany newly issued draft Regulations under s. 5 Defamation Act 2013. Section 5 of the Act outlines a new defence to defamation claims… Read More »