Media: British Chiropractic Association v Dr Simon Singh – Law Society’s Gazette

“While the northern hemisphere is paralysed by the seismic shift that has caused the Icelandic volcano, Mt Eyjafjallajökull, to erupt, the case of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) against Dr Simon Singh promises to have an equally seismic effect on the legal landscape of libel in the UK and the defence of fair comment – especially in the area of scientific debate.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd April 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal experts fear new case of ‘libel tourism’ – The Guardian

Posted April 19th, 2010 in defamation, media, news by sally

“A Saudi businessman who is being sued over a suspected multibillion-dollar fraud is invoking English libel law in what experts say is the latest high-profile example of ‘libel tourism’.”

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The Guardian, 18th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

How many libel cases are there? – The Guardian

Posted April 15th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, statistics by sally

“As science writer Simon Singh wins his libel case, we look at how the numbers of proceedings have changed.”

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The Guardian, 15th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British Chiropractic Association v Singh – WLR Daily

British Chiropractic Association v Singh [2010] EWCA Civ 350; [2010] WLR (D) 96

“A statement, made by a scientific journalist in a newspaper article, that there was ‘not a jot of evidence’ to support a professional body’s claims of certain medical benefits resulting from its members’ treatment of patients was not an assertion of fact but a statement of opinion.”

WLR Daily, 12th April 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Judicial committee to investigate use of ‘super injunctions’ – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 12th, 2010 in defamation, injunctions, media, news by sally

“A judicial committee has been set up to investigate the use of ‘super injunctions’, the gags on the press which newspapers are not even allowed to acknowledge the existence of.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th April 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

High Court ruling serves as a warning against any moderation of user comments – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 9th, 2010 in defamation, internet, news by sally

“A blog owner can avoid liability for user-generated content that appears on his site without being checked or moderated, the High Court has ruled. But fixing the spelling or grammar in users’ posts could lose him that protection, it said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th April 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Overhaul of libel laws ‘will have to wait’ – The Independent

Posted April 8th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by sally

“Plans to cut the profits of law firms who bring libel claims against the media have been dropped, MPs have been told. Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, had promised an overhaul of Britain’s libel laws after a review found the rules had a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression. Among the reforms was a draft law to reduce the fees charged by ‘no-win no-fee’ lawyers in defamation cases from 100 per cent to 10 per cent.”

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The Independent, 8th April 2010

Soruce: www.independent.co.uk

Jack Straw hopes to save libel reform measure after MPs rebel – The Guardian

Posted April 1st, 2010 in defamation, fees, news, solicitors by sally

“The justice secretary, Jack Straw, has said he hopes to save legislation to cut the size of the ‘no win no fee’ deals used by libel lawyers before the impending general election.”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Simon Singh wins libel court battle – The Guardian

“Science writer Simon Singh today won his court of appeal battle for the right to rely on the defence of fair comment in a libel action.”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Publisher not liable for search engine summary, rules High Court – OUT-Law.com

Posted March 30th, 2010 in BBC, defamation, internet, news by sally

“A publisher should not be responsible for a libel created by the out-of-context publication of material by a search engine, the High Court has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 29th March 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Lord Martin defends no-win no-fee libel lawyers – BBC News

Posted March 26th, 2010 in defamation, fees, media, news by sally

“Former Commons Speaker Lord Martin has spoken up in defence of  ‘no win, no fee’  libel lawyers – whose fees the government is trying to curtail.”

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BBC News, 25th March 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government plans libel shield for online news archives – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 26th, 2010 in archives, defamation, internet, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“The Government has outlined its plans for a reform of libel law, but said that it will not be possible to pass the proposed new law before this year’s general election.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th March 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Reform of libel laws will protect freedom of expression – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 24th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Reforms of the law on libel will be taken forward in the next Parliament, Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 23rd March 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Hunger-striker to sue over claims that he ate Big Macs – The Independent

Posted March 24th, 2010 in defamation, demonstrations, food, news by sally

“A hunger striker who held a 23-day fast in Parliament Square last year in protest at the Sri Lanka’s offensive against the Tamil Tigers is suing two newspapers over claims that he secretly ate burgers during his vigil.”

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The Independent, 24th March 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jack Straw unveils plan to curb libel tourism – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Overseas claimants will be discouraged from launching libel cases in UK courts and a ‘public interest’ defence may be introduced to protect investigative journalism, under legal changes unveiled today.”

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The Guardian, 24th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reform of libel laws will protect freedom of expression – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Justice secretary Jack Straw explains why he is proposing a law to curtail ‘libel tourism’ and create a ‘public interest’ defence.”

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Roman Abramovich wins libel case over gambling claims – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 18th, 2010 in damages, defamation, media, news by sally

“Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has accepted a public apology and substantial libel damages at the High Court over false newspaper allegations that he had a serious gambling problem.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th March 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Eady claims libel tourism is a ‘myth’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 18th, 2010 in defamation, news by sally

“Libel tourism is a ‘myth’ spread by parties unhappy at the outcome of cases, Britain’s best-known media judge has claimed.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 18th March 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Boris Berezovsky wins libel case over Litvinenko murder – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2010 in asylum, defamation, media, news, poisoning by sally

“The exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky was today awarded libel damages of £150,000 over ‘savage’ allegations he was behind the murder of his Alexander Litvinenko, the poisoned Russian dissident who was his close friend.”

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The Guardian, 10th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Libel success fees limited to 10% – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 5th, 2010 in costs, defamation, fees, media, news, solicitors by sally

“The success fees charged by lawyers in defamation cases will be cut by 90% after justice secretary Jack Straw laid an order to amend the laws on ‘no win, no fee’ agreements.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th March 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk