Prosecuting Eleanor de Freitas ended in tragedy. So how do we deal with alleged false reports of rape? – The Guardian

‘The tragic case of Eleanor de Freitas has provided more questions than answers. What should be done about those few cases in which women make false allegations of rape? Should libel courts be used to determine the woman’s guilt in such cases? And how do we ensure that the disproportionate attention in the media regarding false allegations does not lead to an even bleaker outlook than already exists for rape victims seeking justice?’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Shipping magnate’s son loses libel action against father of woman he was accused of raping – The Independent

‘A shipping magnate’s son who said he endured a five-week “public rubbishing” because of the actions of the father of a woman who accused him of rape has lost his High Court libel action.’

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The Independent, 27th July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Protecting Public Officials and Corporates – Q&A – 5RB

‘Adam Speker and Felicity McMahon are running a session on “Protecting Public Officials and Corporates” at Conference5RB on 29 September 2016. Here they discuss some of the issues which will be explored.’

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5RB, 7th July 2016

Source: www.5rb.com

London imam sues BBC for libel after being called an ‘extremist’ – The Independent

Posted June 28th, 2016 in BBC, defamation, Islam, news by sally

‘A London imam has sued the BBC for libel over a broadcast which he says meant he was a member of a “rogue’s gallery of extremists”.’

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The Independent, 27th June 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

George Galloway pays damages to former aide over dirty tricks claims – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2016 in damages, defamation, news, parliament by sally

‘The former MP George Galloway has issued a court apology and agreed to pay damages to his former assistant Aisha Ali-Khan over claims that she helped her former police officer husband run a dirty tricks operation against him and his Respect party.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Revealed: How copyright law is being misused to remove material from the internet – The Guardian

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in complaints, copyright, defamation, fraud, freedom of expression, internet, news by sally

‘Writing a bad review online has always run a small risk of opening yourself up to a defamation claim. But few would expect to be told that they had to delete their review or face a lawsuit over another part of the law: copyright infringement.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Blacklisted workers win £10m payout from construction firms – The Guardian

‘About £10m will be paid in compensation to more than 250 building workers who were “blacklisted” by some of Britain’s biggest construction firms under a settlement to be announced on Monday.’

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The Guardian, 9th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Victims of press intrusion deserve better than a return to the status quo – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2016 in defamation, freedom of expression, inquiries, media, news, privacy, victims by sally

‘I was one of the victims of unscrupulous newspapers that David Cameron pledged to protect in the of wake of the Leveson report. Let’s ensure he keeps his promises.’

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The Guardian, 6th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Press victims ‘betrayed’ by law delay – BBC News

Posted April 6th, 2016 in defamation, delay, inquiries, media, news, privacy by tracey

‘Victims of press intrusion have accused the government of breaking its promise over regulation. The group, which includes Kate and Gerry McCann, says a delay in bringing into law a key part of the Royal Charter agreement is a “betrayal”.’

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BBC News, 6th April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two leading genealogists clash in High Court defamation battle – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 23rd, 2016 in defamation, disclosure, documents, harassment, news by sally

‘Daniel Curran, star of Heir Hunters, has been ordered to disclose documents relating to defamatory allegations made against his rival.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Publications must be taken as a whole when determining meaning, rules High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 19th, 2016 in defamation, interpretation, media, news by sally

‘In order to determine the meaning of a publication in defamation, what matters is the publication taken as a whole, a High Court judge has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th February 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Transgender couple win council payout for defamation – Daily Telegraph

‘A transgender couple who claim local villagers subjected them to a campaign of harassment won damages from the council after defamatory comments were published on its website.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th February 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Further ‘judicial direction’ given on meaning of serious harm under defamation laws, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 19th, 2016 in defamation, media, news by sally

‘Courts in England have given further guidance on when statements can be said to have caused or be likely to cause ‘serious harm’ under defamation laws, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th January 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Defamation reforms have helped to curb ‘trivial claims’, says campaign group – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 6th, 2016 in defamation, news, statute law revision by sally

‘Reforms to defamation laws in England and Wales have helped to prevent “trivial claims” being brought before the courts, a campaign group has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th January 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Plebgate police inspector guilty of misconduct, disciplinary panel rules – The Guardian

Posted December 18th, 2015 in complaints, defamation, disciplinary procedures, news, police, professional conduct by tracey

‘A Police Federation official accused of giving a misleading account of a meeting with Plebgate row MP Andrew Mitchell has been found guilty of breaching standards of professional behaviour.’

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The Guardian, 18th December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police illegally accessed journalist’s phone records during Plebgate investigation – Daily Telegraph

‘The Metropolitan Police illegally accessed the phone records of a journalist while desperately trying to find the source of a leek during the Plebgate scandal, a tribunal has ruled.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

That’s Entertainment? The Anonymity of Arrestees and the Law – Doughty Street

‘Last week, The Mirror reported that John Leslie was being questioned by police in connection with an alleged sexual assault. The report contained photographs of the police with evidence bags outside Leslie’s house. The Mirror reminded its readers of allegations made against the former TV presenter in 2002 and 2008. This the most recent example of media reports concerning allegations of sexual offences involving public figures.’

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Doughty Street, 2nd December 2015

Source: www.doughtystreet.co.uk

Serbian Forum Shopper in Breach of his Duty of Full and Frank Disclosure has his Privacy and Libel Action Struck Out – RPC Data and Privacy Law

‘On 23 November 2015 Sir Michael Tugendhat set aside an order for service out of the jurisdiction of proceedings for the misuse of private information and libel which had been made by Master Roberts on 31 March 2015 in respect of an article in Politika, a Serbian language newspaper circulating in Serbia and neighbouring countries in hard copy and available in this country only on the internet. Sir Michael held that the Claimant was in breach of his duty of full and frank disclosure and the case is a significant reminder of the duty of candour that rests upon a claimant when seeking permission to serve outside the jurisdiction under CPR 6.36 and of the perils of over-enthusiastic attempts to squeeze foreign claims into this jurisdiction. The case is also important on the question of how section 9(2) Defamation Act 2013 requiring evidence that England and Wales is “clearly the most appropriate place in which to bring an action in respect of the statement” is to be interpreted and the burden it places on a Claimant which the judge decided had not been discharged in this case.’

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RPC Data and Privacy Law, 7th December 2015

Source: www.rpc.co.uk

One Direction star wins round in Daily Star libel case – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2015 in defamation, drug abuse, media, news by sally

‘One Direction’s Niall Horan has won a round in his libel case over articles he claims imply he used drugs during an evening with fellow musicians Justin Bieber and Cody Simpson.’

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The Guardian, 7th December 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former MP Tim Yeo loses Sunday Times cash claim libel bid – BBC News

Posted November 26th, 2015 in codes of practice, defamation, media, news, parliament by tracey

‘Former Conservative MP Tim Yeo has lost his libel case against The Sunday Times over a “cash for advocacy” claim.’

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BBC News, 25th November 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk