Hearing over Mountbatten papers
A five-day hearing began today in the First-tier Tribunal over the papers of Lord and Lady Mountbatten. The historian Andrew Lownie is seeking the release of the Mountbattens’ diaries and correspondence archived at Southampton University…. Read More »
Permission to appeal granted in George v Cannell & Anor
Earlier this week, Saini J handed down his judgment in George v Cannell (see 5RB news item here). Saini J has now granted Ms George permission to appeal in respect of a point of law relating… Read More »
Google wins in Supreme Court
Google has succeeded in its much-awaited appeal resisting a representative data protection action brought against it on behalf of some four million iPhone users in England and Wales. The claim was based on Google’s tracking… Read More »
Judgment handed down in George v Cannell & Anor
The claim was brought by Ms George against her former employer, Ms Lynn Cannell of Lynn Cannell Associates, a recruitment agency in Essex specialising in recruitment for estate agents and property companies. Ms George sued… Read More »
Court of Appeal to consider the Defendant’s appeal in Duchess of Sussex v Associated Newspapers
The Duchess of Sussex brought an action in misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of data protection rights in respect of the publication in the MailOnline and Mail on Sunday of parts… Read More »
Summary judgment for solicitors in minimal data breach claim
Master McCloud granted summary judgment in a data breach claim over an email which was sent to one incorrect recipient, who deleted it. Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards (“VWV”) sent a letter via email in relation… Read More »
Tortoise launches podcast based on cat-fishing case
Website Tortoise media has launched a podcast investigation into the events underlying a ground-breaking privacy claim, which was brought over a nine year “cat-fishing” campaign. The first two episodes of the podcast series, produced by… Read More »
Julie Bindel settles libel claim with PinkNews
Ms Bindel brought proceedings over an article published in May 2020 on the PinkNews website entitled “The ‘gender critical’ feminist movement is a cult that grooms, controls and abuses, according to a lesbian who managed… Read More »
ECtHR upholds Article 8 breach in relation to reputation of a dead person
In what appears to be on its face a complaint brought in privacy, the recent ECtHR judgment in ML v Slovakia 34159/17 (14 October 2021) challenges the principle that actions cannot be brought for defaming the dead. The… Read More »
5RB top in 2022 Chambers Guide
5RB has been recognised as the “the pre-eminent set” in the 2022 Chambers UK directory in defamation and privacy. 5RB is the only first-tier chambers in this field. For data protection matters, “It is perhaps… Read More »
Statement in Open Court in Bell Shepard v Associated Newspapers Limited
A statement in open court has been read in a misuse of private information and data protection claim brought by Kristen Bell on behalf of her daughter Delta Bell Shepard. Mail Online, part of Associated… Read More »
5RB announces new tenants
Desmond Browne QC, joint Head of 5RB, is delighted to announce that Hope Williams and Gemma McNeil-Walsh have been offered tenancy after successful completion of their pupillage. “Pupillage undertaken remotely during the pandemic has not… Read More »
Euro-Millions lottery winner succeeds in striking out ex-partner’s libel claim
Another judgment has today been handed down in the long-running Bull v Desporte saga following an application by Gareth Bull, a multi-millionaire lottery winner, to strike out the latest libel claim brought against him by his… Read More »
NVTV libel claim dismissed: footage not in fact broadcast
In a judgment handed down on Tuesday 24 August 2021 Murray J has ruled that the Claimant Mr Farhan Junejo failed to establish at a two-day preliminary issue trial in March 2021 that New Vision… Read More »
5RB End of Trinity Term 2021 talk
5RB‘s Adam Speker QC, Kate Wilson and Julian Santos discuss some of the important decisions handed down in the Trinity Term 2021 including, Hijazi v Yaxley-Lennon Lachaux v Independent Print Limited & Evening Standard Limited Abbasi & another v Newcastle… Read More »
News from the Clerks’ Room
Following Jamie Clack’s recent departure, we are pleased to announce that Antony Braeger has been promoted to the role of Deputy Senior Clerk. Additionally, Georgina Gills and Sam Dempsey have both joined the team as… Read More »
Academic awarded £70,000 in damages over blog
Mr Justice Saini awarded substantial libel and harassment damages following the judgment handed down this morning in Blackledge v Person(s) Unknown. The claimant, a senior academic, was the victim of a campaign of online abuse in the form… Read More »
Claimant’s appeal dismissed in Greenstein v Campaign Against Antisemitism
In a judgment handed down on Friday 9 July 2021, the Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal concerned with the pleading of malice in relation to spent convictions. It is the first time that… Read More »
Rebekah Vardy’s summary judgment application fails
Rebekah Vardy’s application for summary judgment was dismissed by Mrs Justice Steyn DBE in a judgment handed down this morning in the ongoing Vardy v Rooney libel litigation. The high-profile libel claim brought by Ms… Read More »
Claimant succeeds on slander preliminary issues
Judgment has been given on preliminary issues in a slander claim between former business partners, by HHJ Richard Parkes QC, sitting as a High Court Judge in the Winchester District Registry of the High Court…. Read More »