New Supplement to Gatley published
A new Supplement to the 12th edition of the leading defamation textbook Gatley on Libel and Slander has been published. It is edited by HHJ Richard Parkes QC (a former member of 5RB) and Professor Alastair Mullis,… Read More »
Claimant succeeds in latest serious harm trial
Following a two day trial to determine whether the libel claim brought by Sam Theedom satisfied the test under s.1 of the Defamation Act 2013 (that there has been serious harm to reputation), judgment has… Read More »
Cheshire West defendant guilty of contempt
At a hearing in Liverpool on Thursday, Mr Justice Holroyde found that Robert Pickthall was guilty of having deliberately breached an anti-harassment injunction on eight occasions. He was sentenced to three months imprisonment for each… Read More »
Mirror phone-hacking damages appeal dismissed
The Court of Appeal today dismissed Mirror Group Newspapers’ appeal in relation to the sums in damages awarded by Mr Justice Mann to eight representative claimants who had been the victims of phone-hacking. Lady Justice… Read More »
Niall Horan wins round in libel claim
Niall Horan of the boyband One Direction sued Express Newspapers over an article in the Daily Star entitled “1D NEW DRUG STORM” which featured a photograph of him with Justin Bieber and Cody Simpson close… Read More »
Mail on Sunday in Bannatyne win
The Mail on Sunday has won its claim against Dragons Den star Duncan Bannatyne for disclosure of information revealing he had lied during his divorce case. Mr Banntyne sought an order preventing the newspaper from… Read More »
Revised Editor’s Code of Practice
The Editors’ Code of Practice Committee has published a revised version of the Editors’ Code of Practice, which will come into for on 1 January 2016. The main changes to the Code are: An amendment… Read More »
Sunday Times wins libel claim
Former Conservative MP Tim Yeo has lost his libel claim against the Sunday Times. The action was brought in relation to articles published after an undercover investigation by the Sunday Times Insight Team. The journalists,… Read More »
Wellers win MailOnline photos appeal
On 20 November 2015 the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in Weller & Ors v Associated Newspapers Limited. The publishers of the MailOnline website had appealed against the judgment of Dingemans J dated 16 April 2014 awarding… Read More »
Author’s cyberstalker imprisoned
A man who stalked best-selling US author Kristine Carlson for seven years has been sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment. Having apparently been told by a psychic that he would meet his future mother-in-law… Read More »
Condé Nast found in contempt of court
Yesterday the Administrative Court handed down judgment in contempt proceedings brought by the Attorney General against Condé Nast Publications Limited in which the publisher was found to be in contempt of court. The proceedings were… Read More »
Summary Judgment in Cheshire West case
At a lengthy hearing in Liverpool on Tuesday 17 November 2015, Mr Justice Holroyde dismissed an application for disclosure brought by the defendant, Mr Pickthall, and granted summary judgment and a permanent injunction to the… Read More »
University of Sussex apologises to ex-student
The University of Sussex has today apologised “unreservedly” to Michael Segalov, an ex-student, following allegations of criminal behaviour published by the University in two online news bulletins in December 2013. Mr Segalov, who is now… Read More »
5RB tops Chambers & Partners 2016
Band 1 | 5RB THE SET 5RB has long been acknowledged as a leader in defamation, privacy and associated fields. Commentators note the set’s “great strength and depth” and praise it for its skill in a wide… Read More »
Crime and Courts Act: damages provisions in force
Tomorrow (3 November 2015) the provisions at sections 34-39 Crime and Courts Act 2013 relating to exemplary and aggravated damages in claims against the press come into force. The provisions automatically come into a force a… Read More »
Court of Appeal hearing in ANL v Weller
On 27 and 28 October 2015 the Court of Appeal heard an appeal by Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the MailOnline website, against the judgment of Mr Justice Dingemans dated 16 April 2014, in… Read More »
New Senior Clerk
5RB has appointed Deputy Senior Clerk, Andrew Love, as the new Senior Clerk when Kim Janes retires at the end of February 2016 after 25-years as the head of 5RB’s clerking team.
Anna Coppola speaks at Malaysian media law conference
Anna Coppola, Associate Member of 5RB and currently based in Singapore, spoke on online defamation and cross-jurisdictional issues at a conference on Media law on 1st October in Kuala Lumpur organised by leading Malaysian law… Read More »
Privy Council allows Reynolds appeal
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (Lords Clarke, Wilson, Sumption, Carnwath and Toulson) today handed down judgment in an appeal it heard in April of this year on Reynolds qualified privilege. It allowed the… Read More »
5RB welcomes Jake Rudman
Jake Rudman went to Bristol University securing his degree in Politics and Sociology (BSc Hons). He then pursued his GDL and BPTC at BPP College, London (Commendation 2011, Very Competent 2012). Prior to pupillage, Jake… Read More »