Richard Spearman KC sitting as a High Court Judge today dismissed a slander claim after a one-day trial in the Royal Courts of Justice.
The defamation claim in Griffin v North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust was made over a telephone call to follow up an employment reference provided by the Defendant about the Claimant. The claim was successfully defended on a number of grounds, including limitation and qualified privilege. Arguments of deliberate concealment and malice did not succeed. North Cumbria was awarded its costs.
Ben Hamer of 5RB acted for the Defendant (instructed by Weightmans)