The Sun fined for contempt
The Sun has been fined 100,000 Euros – around £70,000 – for contempt of court for an article in its Irish edition. The article, written in London although based on Dublin agency copy, was held to… Read More »
Polanski Appeal Allowed
Film director, Roman Polanski, has won the right to give evidence in his libel action against Vanity Fair via video link from France, the House of Lords has ruled today. In a 3-2 majority judgment, the Law Lords have reversed an… Read More »
Wall Street Journal appeal dismissed
In a judgment handed down today, the Court of Appeal has upheld Eady J’s decision to reject the defence of Reynolds qualified privilege in the case brought by Mohammed Jameel and an associated company against the Wall… Read More »
Hamiltons settle with Max Clifford
Max Clifford has paid Neil and Christine Hamilton undisclosed damages and costs to settle their libel and slander claims brought in relation to false allegations of rape made against the couple by hoaxer Nadine Milroy Sloan. Mr… Read More »
Increased protection for advertising slogans?
Companies will be given greater IP protection for their advertising slogans if the full European Court decision in Societe des Produits Nestle SA v Mars UK Ltd (Case C-353/03) follows the advisory opinion of the adocate general, delivered today…. Read More »
Al Rajhi 9/11 claim dismissed
Claims made against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of other defendants over the 9/11 attacks have been dismissed by a US judge after preliminary applications. The Saudi bank, Al Rajhi Banking & Investment… Read More »
Data protection fines for police staff
A special constable working for Dorset Police was fined £1000 for breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 for using police databases to look up people she knew. The special constable in question, Geraldine Tabor,… Read More »
First peer-to-peer filesharing convictions
The first convictions for peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing have been recorded in the US. Two men who operated central hubs in a peer-to-peer community today pleaded guilty to charges of criminal copyright infringement. US government investigators had… Read More »
The new term ahead…
A new year, another very busy term for 5RB. Here are some of the highlights of the Hilary Term: 24 January 2005 – Mahfouz v Brisard (QBD – Jury Trial) 24 January 2005 – Locum Group v… Read More »
Public Authorities open their records
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force today. Under the Act, anyone may request recorded information on any topic from any public authority exercising functions in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Applications may… Read More »
Jimmy Nail loses damages appeal
The Court of Appeal has today dismissed actor Jimmy Nail’s appeals against awards totalling £30,000 in libel damages against the News of the World and HarperCollins. In its first opportunity to review compensation awards under… Read More »
Reporting restrictions refused in Burrell rape trial
Mr Justice Aikens has refused an application for reporting restrictions under s.4(2) Contempt of Court Act 1981 in the rape trial of Michael Burrell, a senior member of the Lord Chancellor’s Department. The complainant asked the Court… Read More »
Sunday Times’ QP defence struck out
International cycling star, Lance Armstrong, has scored a significant victory over the Sunday Times in his libel battle over an article published in the newspaper in June 2004. Sitting in the High Court in… Read More »
District Judge overturns reporting restriction
A District Judge sitting at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court this week overturned an order made under s.4(2) Contempt of Court Act 1981 forbidding the media from reporting criminal proceedings against a PC Hibbert of the West Midlands… Read More »
5RB website given new recognition
Delia Venables, the creator of arguably the most comprehensive online guide to Legal Resources on the Internet, has today accorded the 5RB website new recognition. Ms Venables observes that “5RB (5 Raymond Buildings) is developing its website into a… Read More »
Douglas v Hello! in the CA
The Court of Appeal is this week hearing appeals in the key privacy case of Douglas v Hello! Ltd. Under scrutiny are Lindsay J’s decisions on liability and damages. The Court hearing the appeals is composed… Read More »
Jockey Club excludes punter
The Jockey Club today excluded John McCracken, a Brighton based horseracing punter, from all premises owned or licensed by it for an indefinite period. The exclusion order was granted by the Jockey Club’s Disciplinary Committee on… Read More »
Absolute privilege refused in child case
At the outset of the trial of a libel claim against Westminster City Council and two social workers employed by it, the Court struck out the defence of absolute privilege but ruled that qualified privilege would… Read More »
Guardian victory on access to court documents
The Guardian newspaper today won an important ruling on access to court documents. Park J granted it access to the court file in the Alvis case (Chan U Seek v Alvis Vehicles Ltd) in which… Read More »
Police lose qualified privilege appeal
The Court of Appeal has today dismissed an appeal by the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police against a finding last December that one of his officers had defamed the Claimant, Ben Wood. Following… Read More »