BNP Candidate Loses Libel Action
A High Court jury today found that an election pamphlet produced on behalf of a Liberal Democrat candidate, Mark Morris, which criticised a BNP candidate, Mary Culnane, was not libellous of her. During a by-election campaign in… Read More »
Solicitor wins libel and harassment case
Brighton solicitor, Martin Cray, was today awarded total damages of £19,000 by the High Court in London against a former client, Anthony Hancock, who was found to have conducted a 2-year campaign of harassment against him…. Read More »
Challenge to ban on political advertising
Animal rights group Animal Defenders International have been granted permission to challenge by judicial review the ban on “political advertising” that prevents many campaign groups from promoting their views on radio and television as a violation of the right to freedom… Read More »
£250,000 damages for Rupert Lowe
Rupert Lowe, Chairman of Southampton FC, has been awarded £250,000 libel damages against The Times by a High Court Jury in London. The article, “Men Who Would be Kings Are A Ghastly Alternative”, published in August 2004, had suggested that Mr… Read More »
Chambers’ Review: 5RB top again
5RB has been described as the “preferred choice” in the 2006 Chambers & Partners Guide, which rated 20 5RB barristers (including all 6 QCs): more than any other Chambers in the field. “Tough cross-examiner” Desmond Browne is “the perfect bullish yet sensible advocate.”… Read More »
Naomi Campbell costs ruling
The House of Lords has today unanimously dismissed the Article 10-based challenge to the validity of CFAs in media cases brought by the Daily Mirror. Giving the lead judgment, Lord Hoffmann held that it… Read More »
Jockey Club sees off challenge
Mr Justice Stanley Burnton today handed down an important decision on an issue well-ventilated in writings on Sports Law and Judicial Review: the validity of the Court of Appeal’s 1993 decision that decisions of disciplinary… Read More »
Galloway case returns to Court
The Daily Telegraph‘s appeal against an award of £150,000 libel damages began in the Court of Appeal today. The newspaper, contended that the original decision of Mr Justice Eady in the High Court in… Read More »
‘Ferguson’ denied trade mark protection
With the refusal of his application to register ALEX FERGUSON as a trade mark in the UK, Sir Alex Ferguson has been denied exclusive rights to the use of his own name for photographs, posters and… Read More »
Five year ban for jockey
The Jockey Club Disciplinary Panel yesterday imposed a 5-year disqualification on the jockey Gary Carter, and fined him £2,000. In its decision, released yesterday, the Panel found that on 8 occasions in 2003 Carter, in… Read More »
Media challenge CPR change
Some of the UK’s largest media organisations are challenging a change to the Civil Procedure Rules which they say is an “unnecessary and disproportionate interference with the right to freedom of expression”. The amendment to Rule 5.4(5)(a)(i) provides… Read More »
New faces at 5RB
5RB is pleased to welcome Victoria Joliffe and Victoria Shore to Chambers today to begin their year-long pupillage training. Victoria Jolliffe was educated at school in Culford before securing a first class degree in Broadcasting at Leeds. She has worked in the television… Read More »
The new term ahead…
As always, the autumn term will be a busy one for 5RB. Here’s what lies ahead. 3 October – Universal Studios v Flextech Rights Ltd (Comm Ct) 11 October – George Galloway v Telegraph Group (CA) 17 October – Rupert Lowe v Times Newspapers (QBD… Read More »
‘Chambers of the Year’ goes to 5RB
5RB was named Defamation Chambers of the Year in the awards presented by leading directory Chambers & Partners at the Dorchester Hotel in London last night. The award, based on Chambers & Partners’ independent… Read More »
5RB tops annual Legal 500 Review
The annual Legal 500 review of the legal profession has named 5RB as a leading set both in Defamation & Privacy and Media & Entertainment Law. The independent survey praised the set for its “superb portfolio of… Read More »
Canadian Net libel case rejected
The Ontario Court of Appeal yesterday allowed an appeal from a decision allowing the Washington Post to be sued over Internet publication of an article in the Canadian Province. The action, brought by former UN official, Cheickh Bangoura, complained… Read More »
5RB nominated for three top awards
5RB has been nominated in three categories in the annual awards by leading directory Chambers & Partners. In the category Chambers of the Year, 5RB has been nominated with 1 Brick Court and Matrix Chambers. 5RB‘s Desmond Browne QC… Read More »
5RB at Media Law Conference
5RB’s Christina Michalos speaks today at the IBC’s Protecting the Media Conference in association with Richards Butler. She will be participating in a practical case study session concerning Management of the Flow of Information in Intellectual Property and… Read More »
London hosts MLRC Conference
The American-based Media Law Resource Center is hosting its annual Conference in London this year between 19-20 September. The conference draws together delegates and speakers from across the US, Europe and the Commonwealth for perhaps… Read More »
Fall in defamation court cases
The number of reported defamation court cases declined over the past year, statistics from Sweet & Maxwell’s online legal information services reveal. The figures, drawn from Lawtel & Westlaw UK, show that reported defamation cases… Read More »