Court of Appeal dismisses costs appeal in Mitchell “Plebgate” libel case
In an important ruling, the Court of Appeal has dismissed Andrew Mitchell’s appeal and upheld Master McCloud’s decisions: (1) that having failed to file his costs budget in time, Mr Mitchell was to be treated as… Read More »
Defamation Act 2013 talks
Book your place – limited places remaining! 1 CPD hour 5RB is pleased to announce that we will be hosting talks on the new Defamation Act in London, Leeds and Manchester. The details for the… Read More »
Blackstone’s Guide to the Defamation Act 2013 published
Blackstone’s Guide to the Defamation Act 2013 is published by Oxford University Press today. The Guide combines analysis of the new Act from experts at 5RB, with full text of the Act, its Explanatory Notes… Read More »
MoJ Consultation on s.5 Operators of Websites Regulations Guidance
The Ministry of Justice is consulting on the Guidance and FAQs which accompany newly issued draft Regulations under s. 5 Defamation Act 2013. Section 5 of the Act outlines a new defence to defamation claims… Read More »
Former Tory Treasurer awarded £180,000 against Sunday Times
The former Treasurer of the Conservative Party, Peter Cruddas, has won his legal battle with the Sunday Times after being awarded £180,000 against the newspaper and two of its Insight journalists. The action for libel and malicious falsehood arose… Read More »
Surfer wins damages
Yachting World has apologised in open court to Mr Tristram Cokes over a false allegation that he had served time for cocaine smuggling and agreed to pay him substantial libel damages. Mr Cokes has been… Read More »
DPP unveils guidance on social media prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keir Starmer has issued guidance for the CPS on when to initiate legal action against those who breach UK communications laws on social media. The guidance comes after a number… Read More »
Croatian Actor wins damages for “Nazi war criminal” error
A Croatian actor has accepted undisclosed libel damages after The Independent wrongly identified him as a Nazi war criminal. Ljubomir Jurkovic brought libel proceedings against the newspaper after his photograph was used to illustrate a front page story about the death of… Read More »
Blogger loses libel claim against Council
A Blogger, who runs a website called Carmarthenshire Planning Problems and More, has lost her libel claim against a Council and its Chief Executive. Jacqui Thompson had achieved some nationwide publicity when she was arrested… Read More »
PCC: no need for prominence in libel reports
The Press Complaints Commission has not upheld a complaint by Lord Ashcroft that The Independent broke clause 1 of the Code of Practice in reporting the outcome of the peer’s recent libel claim against the… Read More »
Local council and newspaper pay substantial damages
Two female taxi drivers have accepted substantial compensation in settlement of their claim for libel against Fenland District Council and Archant Regional Limited. Yesterday a statement in open court was read on behalf of the… Read More »
Google can be liable as publisher
The Court of Appeal today handed down its long-awaited judgment in Tamiz v Google Inc. It is the first case, following a sequence of High Court decisions such as Godfrey v Demon Internet, Bunt v Tilley… Read More »
Banker libel case settles
The parties in Qadir v Associated Newspapers Ltd have reached a settlement. Former banker Irfan Qadir has reached a settlement with Associated Newspapers over the publication in the Mail on Sunday in 2011 of two… Read More »
Peter Cruddas awarded £45k for breach of election law libel
Peter Cruddas, Executive Chairman of CMC Markets and former co-Treasurer of the Conservative Party, has today been awarded libel damages of £45,000 in the High Court against Mark Adams, the lobbyist and former Private Secretary… Read More »
Naomi Campbell wins elephant cruelty libel claim
Naomi Campbell has settled her libel claim against the publishers of the Daily Telegraph with a joint Statement in Open Court read today before Mr Justice Eady and the payment of substantial damages and costs…. Read More »
Businessman awarded £7,500 for twitter campaign
A racing tipster has been awarded £7,500 damages for a large number of defamatory allegations which were tweeted to several hundred people. In October 2011 a group of owners, trainers and tipsters from Yorkshire were… Read More »
Ashcroft cleared of corruption links
Lord Ashcroft’s long-running libel claim against the former publisher of The Independent newpaper came to a successful conclusion on 26 November, when Independent News & Media Ltd made a public apology in Court before Eady J…. Read More »
Jury awards libel damages to Frankie Boyle
A jury has awarded comedian Frankie Boyle damages of £54,650 against Mirror Group Newspapers after a week-long trial. Mr Boyle, represented by 5RB’s David Sherborne, was awarded £50,400, the jury having found that an article… Read More »
Mail on Sunday report privilege fails
Irfan Qadir, a former Bank of Scotland Director, who sued over two articles which appeared in the Mail on Sunday, has successfully seen off the newspaper’s attempts to rely on various grounds of privilege. The… Read More »
Libel dispute settled by arbitration
The Press Gazette reports on the use of binding arbitration in a recent libel matter. Richard Ward, owner of the salon where the Duchess of Cambridge had her wedding-day haired styled has settled his dispute… Read More »