Twitter users and the law – timeline – The Guardian
“Libel, racism, threats, harassment and the naming of people in defiance of court orders.”
The Guardian, 29th July 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: defamation
‘Gutting’ of Jillings child abuse report angers victims – The Guardian
“A decision to continue to withhold crucial details from a damning report on widespread abuse in children’s homes has been strongly criticised by victims, lawyers and child protection experts.”
The Guardian, 8th July 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Sunday Times wins long-running libel trial against East End businessman – The Guardian
“The Sunday Times has won a long-running libel trial brought by an East End businessman it accused of running a vast criminal empire in London.”
The Guardian, 4th July 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Daily Mail in £100,000-plus payout over Syrian chemical weapons story – The Guardian
“The Daily Mail has apologised and paid £110,000 in libel damages to a London defence firm it wrongly linked with an alleged chemical weapons plot in Syria.”
The Guardian, 26th June 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Daily Mail to pay £125,000 libel damages over TV psychic ‘scam’ claim – The Guardian
“The Daily Mail has apologised and agreed to pay £125,000 in libel damages to a TV psychic it falsely accused of using a hidden earpiece to scam a theatre audience.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Defamation on social media – Law Society’s Gazette
“On 24 May Mr Justice Tugendhat handed down the judgment in McAlpine v Bercow [2013] EWHC 1342 (QB), finding that Mrs Bercow’s tweet carried a defamatory meaning. Following the judgment it was announced that Bercow had accepted an earlier settlement offer, saying that ‘today’s ruling should be seen as a warning to all social media users’. Although Twitter litigation is no longer new (the site has been the form of publication in a number of cases, most notably Cairns v Modi [2012] EWHC 756 (QB)), McAlpine is the first to really tackle the peculiar nature of this social media genre and could mark a key moment in social media use.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 17th June 2013
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Paul Gascoigne launches libel action against Daily Star – The Guardian
“Paul Gascoigne has launched a six-figure legal claim against the Daily Star over a leaked mobile phone video allegedly stolen from his flat.”
The Guardian, 14th June 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Carmarthenshire blogger told to pay £230,000 legal costs – BBC News
“A Carmarthenshire blogger fears losing her home after being told to pay a £230,000 legal bill for a failed bid to sue a council chief executive.”
BBC News, 5th June 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
High Court: Sally Bercow’s Lord McAlpine tweet was libel – BBC News
“A tweet published by Sally Bercow about Tory peer Lord McAlpine was libellous, the High Court has ruled.”
BBC News, 24th May 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Met Police pay libel damages to riots ‘Good Samaritan’ – BBC News
“The Metropolitan Police is to pay substantial damages to a man who was wrongly
pictured in ‘wanted’ posters following the London riots in 2011.”
BBC News, 3rd May 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Defamation Act becomes law, establishes new statutory defences against libel – OUT-LAW.com
“Changes to libel laws in England and Wales have been implemented after the Defamation Bill received Royal Assent late last week.”
OUT-LAW.com, 29th April 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
Defamation Act reforms libel law – Ministry of Justice
“Large scale reforms to the law governing cases of defamation have today become law as the Defamation Bill gains Royal Assent.”
Ministry of Justice, 25th April 2013
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Lords pass defamation bill – The Guardian
“Laws that led to London being dubbed ‘the libel capital of the world’ will be reformed after peers in the Lords voted to pass the defamation bill, ending a three-year campaign led by Liberal Democrat peers Lord McNally and Lord Lester.”
The Guardian, 23rd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Rochdale care homes to sue council leader for suggesting children not safe after grooming scandal – Daily Telegraph
“Two private care home operators are attempting to sue the leader of the council at the centre of the Rochdale child grooming scandal for libel after he suggested vulnerable children would not be safe in the area.”
Daily Telegraph, 22nd April 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Government U-turn on defamation bill heralds libel reform victory – The Guardian
“A three-year campaign to reform Britain’s ‘chilling’ libel laws is days away from victory after the government did a U-turn on a key proposal which would prevent companies using defamation laws to silence their critics.”
The Guardian, 22nd April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Court awards anonymity for victim of libellous “paedophile” allegations – UK Human Rights Blog
“The permanent damage that internet publications can inflict is very much the focus of Tugendhat J’s assessment of damages in this case, encapsulated in the memorable description he quoted in an earlier judgment: ‘what is to be found on the internet may become like a tattoo’.”
UK Human Rights Blog, 21st April 2013
Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com
Lesley Kemp faces libel suit over Twitter comments – BBC News
“A woman who complained about an unpaid £146 invoice is facing a libel battle that could cost her more than £100,000.”
BBC News, 19th April 2013
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Civil Justice Council (CJC) group reports on defamation costs – Judiciary of England and Wales
“A Civil Justice Council (CJC) Working Group today publishes its report on the case and options for costs protection in defamation and privacy proceedings.”
Judiciary of England and Wales, 18th April 2013
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Lord McAlpine wins first round in hearing for Twitter libel case – The Guardian
“Lord McAlpine has won the first stage of his libel battle against Sally Bercow, the Commons speaker’s wife, after a high court judge ruled that the trial should be split into two stages.”
The Guardian, 16th April 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
