UK science minister apologises and pays damages after academic’s libel action – The Guardian

‘Michelle Donelan, the science minister, has apologised and paid damages after accusing two academics of “sharing extremist views” and one of them of supporting Hamas.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawyers question effectiveness of new anti-SLAPPs law – Legal Futures

Posted February 26th, 2024 in bills, costs, defamation, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘The government last week backed a private member’s bill aimed at extending the new law on SLAPPs beyond economic crime to all types of litigation.’

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Legal Futures, 26th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Laurence Fox loses High Court battle after calling two people paedophiles on social media – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2024 in defamation, internet, media, news by tracey

‘The actor Laurence Fox has lost his High Court libel battle with two people he referred to as paedophiles on social media.’

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The Independent, 29th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Case preview: George v Cannell and Anor – UKSC Blog

Posted December 13th, 2023 in appeals, damages, defamation, malicious falsehood, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘This case is concerned with what a respondent needs to demonstrate to take advantage of the Defamation Act 1952 (the “1952 Act”), s 3(1), in a claim for malicious falsehood and avoid the need to prove special damage.’

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UKSC Blog, 11th December 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

Prince Harry loses battle to get Mail on Sunday defence thrown out in libel case – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2023 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, police, royal family by michael

‘Prince Harry has lost an attempt to get part of the Mail on Sunday publishers’ defence thrown out in a libel case.’

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BBC News, 8th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

James Dyson loses libel claim against Daily Mirror publisher – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2023 in brexit, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by tracey

‘Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror after a columnist at the newspaper stated that he had “championed Vote Leave … before moving his global head office to Singapore”.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal refuses permission to appeal in high-profile defamation claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 24th, 2023 in appeals, data protection, defamation, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘Court of Appeal judges have refused permission to appeal in the latest court hearing of a high-profile defamation action brought by a Conservative Party donor against a former Tory MP.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitor accepts “substantial damages” over Times libel – Legal Futures

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in compensation, defamation, media, news, solicitors by sally

‘A solicitor whose political ambitions were derailed by a libellous article about his legal work for miners has accepted “substantial” damages from The Times.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

News focus: Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 13th, 2023 in bills, damages, defamation, freedom of information, media, news, public interest by tracey

‘While the king’s speech pledged “legislation to protect public interest journalism”, a new Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs. This has sparked renewed calls to extend corrective measures beyond economic crime.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Designed to distress and deter’: the impact of Slapp lawsuits on journalists and free speech – The Guardian

Posted November 6th, 2023 in defamation, disclosure, freedom of expression, human rights, media, news, Russia by tracey

‘Individuals and campaigners tell of damage done by powerful people using the courts to try to shut down investigative reporting.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andy McDonald sues Tory MP who accused him of ‘seeking to justify’ Hamas atrocity – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2023 in damages, defamation, Israel, news, political parties, war by tracey

‘A suspended Labour MP is suing the Conservative MP Chris Clarkson, who accused him of “seeking to justify the murderous actions of Hamas” in the Israel-Hamas conflict.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronation arrests: Republic leader Graham Smith takes legal action – BBC News

Posted September 13th, 2023 in damages, defamation, human rights, judicial review, news, police, royal family, wrongful arrest by tracey

‘A republican protester detained on the day of King Charles’ Coronation is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police.’

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BBC News, 12th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK Government launches taskforce to stop ‘devastating’ lawsuits against journalists – The Independent

Posted September 11th, 2023 in bills, defamation, government departments, media, news, privacy by tracey

‘The Government has launched a new taskforce which aims to put a stop to lawsuits that have a “devastating” impact on journalists. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will meet groups from the media and legal sectors on Monday as they try to end legal threats, known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapps).’

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The Independent, 11th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge right to award lying libel claimant £1 damages, appeal rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 31st, 2023 in appeals, damages, deceit, defamation, fraud, news, personal injuries by tracey

‘A High Court judge was correct to award only £1 in damages to a libel claimant who lied to the court, three appeal judges have found in the latest ruling concerning the self-proclaimed inventor of bitcoin. Computer scientist Dr Craig Wright last year successfully sued a blogger who had publicly accused him of fraud. However Mr Justice Chamberlain ordered only nominal damages because Wright had submitted “deliberately false” evidence on the extent of harm caused by the libel.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court: Letter asserting solicitor’s lien was not defamatory – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2023 in damages, defamation, fees, law firms, negligence, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The High Court has thrown out a defamation claim over a letter sent by one law firm to another asserting a solicitor’s lien over £100,000 of any damages awarded to its former clients.’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High-profile defamation case dismissed by judge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 9th, 2023 in defamation, media, news, political parties by tracey

‘The head of the High Court media list has thrown out a high-profile defamation action and concluded “that no purpose would be served by giving the claimant a further opportunity to replead his claim.”’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

No anonymity for contempt against family court – Transparency Project

‘The decision in EBK v DLO [2023] EWHC 1074 (Fam) was reported in the local press as “Royal marine fails in contempt proceedings against ex-partner”. The case involved a lengthy history of disputes over contact, allegations of domestic abuse, employment sanctions, and defamation actions taken against the police and Cafcass. Here, we look at important points on transparency that emerged.’

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Transparency Project, 6th June 2023

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Chris Packham awarded £90,000 damages in libel case – The Guardian

Posted May 26th, 2023 in charities, costs, damages, defamation, fraud, media, news by tracey

‘Chris Packham said he has been vindicated after a judge found that he had been subjected to an online ideological campaign, accusing him of fraud and dishonesty, before awarding him £90,000 in libel damages.’

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The Guardian, 25th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Times pays damages to lawyer over misleading article – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2023 in barristers, damages, defamation, homosexuality, marriage, media, news by sally

‘A leading lawyer has received “substantial” damages and an apology from the Times over a misleading report that claimed she had been censured by her professional regulator.’

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The Guardian, 16th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Malicious falsehood in English law – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 15th, 2023 in damages, defamation, injunctions, malicious falsehood, news by tracey

‘The law of malicious falsehood aims to protect economic interests. Malicious falsehood claims are sometimes made in tandem with, or as an alternative to, defamation claims.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th May 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com