“An estate agent has accepted substantial libel damages over newspaper articles that suggested he had been arrested in connection with an alleged terrorist plot to blow up passenger aircraft using ‘liquid bombs’.”
The Guardian, 20th June 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Complaints to police are privileged
Buckley v. Dalziel and Another
Queen’s Bench Division
“Absolute privilege and immunity from suit were available to a person who provided information to the police to set in motion the process of an inquiry into possible illegality.”
The Times, 7th June 2007
Source: www.thetimesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“Despite the myths, bloggers are just as vulnerable as conventional publishers to legal action – if not more so.”
The Times, 23rd May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Libel author’s identity irrelevant
Court of Appeal
“In defamation cases a cause of action accrued for limitation purposes even if the claimant was unaware of the identity of the relevant author.”
The Times, 22nd May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
No power to add late libel claim
Adelson and Another v. Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Queen’s Bench Division
“Where the libel limitation period had expired, there was no jurisdiction to grant an application to amend pleadings by the addition of new claimants.”
The Times, 10th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“Gina Ford, the controversial childcare guru, yesterday dropped her bitter legal battle against a popular parenting website that mocked her rigorous methods.”
Daily Telegraph, 10th May 2007
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“A woman who sued her neighbours for libel and slander after they told police that she had pruned their trees without permission has paid a high price for her action.”
The Times, 4th May 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“PANORAMA, the BBC’s flagship current affairs show, faces being sued for more than £1m by Britain’s richest doctor after a “biased and irresponsible” undercover investigation into his fertility clinics.”
The Sunday Times, 29th April 2007
“The Sunday Times did not libel a man accused of ‘association with the IRA’s dirty money’ in an investigation into his business interests, the High Court ruled on Wednesday.”
OUT-LAW.com, 27th April 2007
Source: www.out-law.com
“Speaking ill of the dead could become a lot more expensive. The government is to consider extending the laws of defamation so that even the deceased – or at least their representatives – can sue for libel.”
Sunday Times, 22nd April 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Alternative dispute resolution – sorting out libel actions without the crushing costs of High Court litigation – was given a new lease of life last month when Peter Ebdon, the former world snooker champion, arbitrated his libel action against The Times. It was the first time a case involving a defence of fair comment went to binding arbitration.”
The Times, 17th April 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Edwards v. Golding and others [2007] WLR (D) 88
“In defamation cases knowledge of the identity of the tortfeasor was not an integral element required before a cause of action could be said to have accrued for the purposes of limitation.”
WLR Daily, 4th April 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“The BBC is to pay Lady Falkender £75,000 in damages over a drama documentary claiming she conducted an adulterous affair with Harold Wilson and exercised undue influence over the compilation of his resignation honours list.”
Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2007
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
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