BBC air series on media law
The six part BBC documentary series ‘See you in Court’ began at 10.35pm on Tuesday 29 March on BBC One. The BBC’s publicity states: “Just as quickly as papers rush to press with the latest… Read More »
Met Police fail to stop phone hacking libel claim
Mr Justice Tugendhat today ruled that the defamation claim brought by the solicitor Mark Lewis against the Metropolitan Police Service can proceed. The MPS attempted to have it struck out on the ground that the… Read More »
Court of Appeal upholds strict liability for innuendo meanings
In a judgment handed down on Wednesday 23 March 2011 in the ‘innuendo’ libel claim brought by Russian businesswoman Elena Baturina, the Court of Appeal has rejected the newspaper’s argument that the strict liability rule… Read More »
New edition of privacy book published
The second edition of Tugendhat & Christie: The Law of Privacy and the Media is published by Oxford University Press today. In the 9 years since the first edition appeared the law has developed at… Read More »
Draft Defamation Bill unveiled
This afternoon Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke unveiled a draft bill to reform the law of defamation in England and Wales. Mr Clarke said in a statement ‘the right to speak freely and debate issues without… Read More »
Appeal judge receives libel apology
Telegraph Media Group today publicly apologised to Lord Justice Sedley for publishing untrue and damaging allegations about his handling of a case involving residents of a care home. The 20 November 2010 edition of the… Read More »
Sikh leader’s appeal dismissed
The Court of Appeal today dismissed the appeal by a libel claimant with the title, His Holiness Baba Jeet Singh Ji Maharaj, following his failure to pay security ordered in the sum of £250,000. The Appellant… Read More »
Sikh sect leader ordered to pay £250,000 security
The Court of Appeal today ordered a claimant with the title, His Holiness Baba Jeet Singh Ji Maharaj, to lodge £250,000 in court or his appeal due to be heard on 28 February or 1 March,… Read More »
‘JIH’ wins privacy appeal
This morning the Court of Appeal delivered judgment in the case of JIH v News Group Newspapers, overturning the refusal of Mr Justice Tugendhat to grant an interim order preventing the publication of the claimant’s… Read More »
MGN wins Campbell success fee ruling
The European Court of Human Rights has found that the order that MGN pay the CFA success fee in Naomi Campbell’s landmark privacy claim against the publisher violated Article 10, although the decision on liability was not such a violation…. Read More »
Interpreter awarded £30,000 for libel
Jan Cambridge, a Public Service Interpreter, has succeeded in her claim for libel against Dr Guillermo Makin, another interpreter. The trial of her claim was heard by Mr Justice Tugendhat in November 2010. In his… Read More »
Public authority loses privilege appeal
The Court of Appeal today handed down judgment in Clift v Slough Borough Council, finding in favour of the Claimant and against the Appellant Council. The appeal concerned the relationship between the qualified privilege defence in… Read More »
Procedure Group calls for defamation reform
A procedural reform group chaired by 5RB’s Sir Charles Gray has published recommendations for procedural reform to achieve earlier and cheaper resolution of defamation claims. The Early Resolution Procedure Group, whose barrister members were Adrienne… Read More »
Former MP loses ‘expenses’ libel claim
The Evening Standard has obtained summary judgment in a libel claim brought against it by former Conservative MP Jacqui Lait. Ms Lait sued the newspaper in respect of an article published before the election, on… Read More »
Flood v Times may go to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has proposed granting Times Newspapers Ltd permission to appeal from the decision of the Court of Appeal in Flood v Times Newspapers Limited [2010] EWCA Civ 804, subject to the Times paying the costs of… Read More »
Supreme Court liberalises fair comment
The Supreme Court has today handed down judgment in Spiller & Anor v Joseph & Ors [2010] UKSC 53, the first case in which it has considered the law of defamation. The issue which came… Read More »
New Supplement to Gatley published
A supplement to the 11th edition of Gatley on Libel and Slander has been published. It is jointly edited by former 5RB member HHJ Richard Parkes QC and Professor Horton Rogers and features contributions from… Read More »
Solicitor wins phone hacking libel claim
A libel action brought by solicitor Mark Lewis against the Press Complaints Commission and its chair, Baroness Buscombe, has settled with payment to Mr Lewis of a sum in damages and a statement in open court. It is… Read More »
Melanie Phillips apologises for libel
Writer Melanie Phillips and the Spectator have apologised to British Muslim Initiative leader Mohammad Sawalha for an article alleging that he made an anti-Semitic statement, and have agreed to pay him damages and his legal costs. Ms… Read More »
ICO imposes first DPA breach fines
The Information Commissioner’s Office has imposed its first fines for breaches of the Data Protection Act, fining Hertfordshire County Council £100,000 and employment services company A4e £60,000. The Council was fined for sending faxes containing sensitive data… Read More »