Stephen Bate joins CEDR panel
5RB’s Stephen Bate has become the first practising barrister to join CEDR’s Solve Direct mediator panel, a service which allows mediation users to enter into direct deals with selected mediators, with back-up services and quality… Read More »
PCC rejects childbirth privacy complaint
The Press Complaints Commission has rejected a complaint brought against the Daily Record from Paul Ferris, who was described by the paper as a “gangster”, and his partner Carolyn Cunningham, over the reporting of the… Read More »
New York to fight ‘libel tourism’
Proposed legislation in the New York State legislature would prevent individuals who had obtained libel judgments in more claimant-friendly jurisdictions, such as England and Wales, from enforcing them in the state. The proposed legislation, introduced by Senate Deputy… Read More »
Sienna Miller wins privacy action
Actress Sienna Miller has obtained default judgment in her privacy action against Warren Richardson, the photographer who took nude photos of her on a closed film set. The “highly intrusive” pictures of Miss Miller… Read More »
Press regulator reports record number of complaints
The Press Complaints Commission has reported a 31% rise in complaints during 2007. The self-regulatory body received 4,320 complaints last year, including 485 complaints about a Daily Mirror comment piece on the McCanns, and 143… Read More »
Media challenge secrecy in murder trial
Seven national newspaper groups have challenged a bid to have parts of the trial of the man accused of murdering writer Allan Chappelow heard in private. The unusual secrecy order would allow witnesses at the trial of… Read More »
Government proposes changes to copyright exceptions
The Government has proposed allowing private copying of music and films, allowing parodies of copyright works and relaxing copying restrictions for schools and libraries in a major intellectual property consultation. The process is intended to implement many of… Read More »
OK! sues Heat over celebrity pregnancy story
OK! magazine has issued a copyright claim against rival celebrity gossip magazine Heat over coverage of Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy. OK!’s North American edition published an exclusive interview with Ms Spears, the younger sister of singer Britney, in which… Read More »
PCC upholds privacy complaint against OK!
The PCC has upheld a privacy complaint against OK! Magazine in respect of an article about a male celebrity which stated that he had been “spotted at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting” with his friend, the complainant. The… Read More »
Doctor settles lengthy libel action
A talented junior doctor who was suspended from work for nearly five years has won an apology from Cambridgeshire health officials. The doctor, who can be referred to only as “Z” for legal reasons, was born with a serious and life-threatening… Read More »
Channel Four fined £1.5m
Media watchdog Ofcom has fined Channel Four £1.5m for misconduct involving phone-in competitions on its Richard and Judy and Deal or No Deal programmes. It found that viewers were urged to call in to the Richard… Read More »
MOD obtains gagging order
The High Court has imposed an order preventing media publicity of allegations of abuse by British soldiers serving in Iraq. Lawyers for Iraqi families launched a High Court challenge on human rights grounds to the… Read More »
Kidman wins libel damages
Nicole Kidman has accepted substantial damages from the Daily Telegraph over allegations that she had broken her contract with perfume company Chanel. In its Spy gossip column on DATE, the newspaper published an article falsely alleging that while in London… Read More »
Privacy payout for Sienna Miller
Sienna Miller has accepted £37,500 in compensation from Newsgroup Newspapers and Xposure Photo Agency Ltd following the publication of nude photographs of the actress in the News of the World and The Sun. The settlement amount is… Read More »
Jerry Springer: not blasphemous libel
Christian Voice, an evangelical Christian organisation, has failed to overturn a Magistrates’ decision not to allow a prosecution against the BBC and theatrical producers of Jerry Springer – The Opera as blasphemous libel. Christian Voice… Read More »
Patrick Moloney QC becomes a judge
1 Brick Court libel silk Patrick Moloney has been appointed to the Circuit Bench. After graduating from Oxford University, Patrick was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1976. He joined 1 Brick Court in… Read More »
Australian court makes $1.6m libel damages award
The Supreme Court of New South Wales has ordered a former employee of SMEC Holdings Ltd to pay $1.6 million damages (£681,600) to the company and three of its directors. Glen Boniface denied being responsible… Read More »
Panorama rapped over wi-fi report
The BBC has upheld complaints against an edition of its flagship current affairs series Panorama about the health hazards caused by Wi-Fi. The programme, Wi-Fi: A Warning Signal, broadcast on BBC1 in May, explored whether the… Read More »
Gatley Supplement now on sale
The Second Supplement to the Tenth Edition of Gatley on Libel and Slander is now available. Gatley is the definitive work on the law and procedure of libel and slander. The supplement includes all… Read More »
Appointment to the Bar Standards Board
Matthew Nicklin has been appointed to the Bar Standards Board, the independent body of the Bar Council responsible for regulating barristers. The Bar Standards Board (“BSB”) was established by the Bar Council in January 2006… Read More »