IVF doctor libel case settles
Mohammed Taranissi, a doctor specialising in fertility treatment, has settled his libel claim against the BBC. Mr Taranissi brought the claim in respect of allegations contained in a Panorama programme broadcast in January 2007. The BBC initially… Read More »
Select Committee hears final evidence
In its last evidence session for its inquiry into press standards, privacy and libel, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee heard from Charmian Gooch of Global Witness, solicitor Mark Stephens and… Read More »
EMLRs move to 5RB
The leading specialist media law reports, the Entertainment and Media Law Reports, published by Sweet & Maxwell, have new Editors in the shape of Richard Parkes QC and Godwin Busuttil. Sweet & Maxwell announced the appointment as… Read More »
Abortion Statistics Tribunal Begins
The hearing of the Department of Health’s appeal under the Freedom of Information Act against the Information Commissioner’s decision that the Department release more detailed abortion statistics for 2003 began today in the Information Tribunal…. Read More »
5th London Legal Sponsored Walk
A team of members of 5RB and our friends took part in the 5th London Legal Sponsored Walk on 18 May 2009, raising over £5,000 for the cause of providing free legal advice services for the… Read More »
Jack Straw critical of high costs
Jack Straw yesterday gave evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport select committee yesterday as part of its inquiry into press standards, privacy and libel. He told the committee that libel litigation costs for defendant newspapers were "ridiculous"… Read More »
Alfie’s not the dad: injunction lifted
Schoolboy Alfie Patten, who made headlines earlier this year when he was reported to have got his girlfriend pregnant aged just 12, is not the baby’s father after all. In February this year a media furore… Read More »
Injunction application hit for six
Shamley Green Cricket Club is free to continue playing cricket on its village green pitch after HHJ Reid QC, sitting in the Guildford County Court, dismissed an application for an injunction on Friday. The applicant, Mr… Read More »
Times convicted of contempt of court
The publishers of The Times and the foreman of a jury who revealed to the newspaper how he disagreed with the verdict reached in a manslaughter case were both found guilty of contempt of court yesterday. Michael Seckerson… Read More »
Review of Civil Costs published
Lord Justice Jackson has today published his preliminary report as part of his review of the costs of civil litigation. Chapter 37 of the Report addresses costs in all types of ‘publication proceedings’ (actions for… Read More »
TV lie detector tester wins apology
A legal battle between two TV chat show lie detector testers came to a close after one of them agreed to apologise, pay substantial damages and costs for having falsely suggested that the other had… Read More »
Editors warn MPs of threats to press
During the past two weeks, various newspapers editors have given evidence on the threat to press freedom from libel and privacy claims to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Today Colin Myler, editor of… Read More »
Journalists give evidence to MPs
The Press Complaints Commission is in urgent need of reform, Roy Greenslade, a writer on media matters for the Guardian and Professor of Journalism at City University, and Nick Davies, investigative journalist and Flat Earth News… Read More »
EC challenge over internet privacy
The European Commission is to investigate the UK government’s failure to prevent the use of technology which allows ISPs to track internet use without consent. The proposed action follows the test use of "Phorm technology" by BT… Read More »
New rules for family courts access
The Government has today laid before Parliament new rules allowing for access to family court proceedings by media representatives. Under the rules, which will come into force on 27th April 2009, only accredited representatives of the media… Read More »
George wins 75K libel damages
Mohammed George, an actor who appeared in the soap opera Eastenders, has today won his libel claim against The Sun. Mohammed George, a regular in the BBC programme for 5 years, sued the newspaper over allegations that… Read More »
Elton John refused leave to appeal
Sir Elton John has confirmed that he will not challenge the Court of Appeal’s refusal to hear his appeal in a libel claim brought in relation to a spoof diary item published in The… Read More »
Eastenders actor’s libel trial begins
The trial of a claim brought by an actor who appeared in the soap opera Eastenders against The Sun began in the High Court today. Mohammed George, a regular in the BBC programme for 5… Read More »
PCC Chair gives evidence to MPs
Sir Christopher Meyer, the outgoing chair of the Press Complaints Commission has accused media law firms of using a 10 March Commons select committee hearing on press standards to launch an offensive against his organisation…. Read More »
Liverpool libel trial collapses
A Liverpool businessman last week withdrew his libel claim against a former colleague in the West Wirral Conservative Association shortly after the conclusion of his cross-examination. Bahram Noorani had sued Richard Calver over a letter… Read More »