High court rejects challenge to status of UK press regulator – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2017 in defamation, media, news, privacy by tracey

‘The UK’s officially recognised press regulator, Impress, has fought off a high court challenge over its status. The News Media Association (NMA), which represents publishers, said the Press Recognition Panel (PRP), which was set up under a royal charter after the Leveson inquiry, should not have given Impress formal approval a year ago.’

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the Guardian, 12th October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Serious harm’ appeals dismissed – 5RB

Posted October 3rd, 2017 in appeals, defamation, news by sally

The case represents the first opportunity that the Court of Appeal has had to consider the meaning and effect of s.1(1) of the Defamation Act 2013. The judgment addresses this matter as well as a number of related issues of practice and procedure. By its judgment, the Court dismisses the defendants’ appeals, ruling in favour of the claimant on the facts and the law.

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5RB, 12th September 2017

Source: www.5rb.com

Restrictions on media communications in the interests of truth or privacy – 5RB

Posted October 3rd, 2017 in defamation, media, news, privacy by sally

‘This paper challenges the bad image that has been gained by the United Kingdom law of defamation and explains why I do not consider that that image is fair or warranted.’

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5RB, 14th September 2017

Source: www.5rb.com

Court of Appeal clarifies ‘serious harm’ test under defamation laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 14th, 2017 in appeals, defamation, media, news by tracey

‘A new ruling by the Court of Appeal has confirmed that it will not be as challenging for people to bring defamation claims before the courts in England and Wales under new defamation laws as many media organisations may have hoped, a specialist in media litigation has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th September 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Landmark appeal judgment dents libel threshold hopes – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A Court of Appeal ruling has dealt a blow to hopes that the 2013 Defamation Act would raise the bar to libel actions in England and Wales courts. In Bruno Lachaux v Independent Print Limited and Evening Standard Limited, and Bruno Lachaux v AOL (UK) Limited, the court dismissed an appeal by publishers against a High Court finding that a French national living in Dubai had been caused “serious harm” by the publication of allegations by his former wife.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th September 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Subletting and defamation – a novel approach – Nearly Legal

Posted August 4th, 2017 in defamation, injunctions, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘There is a queue of significant and serious cases waiting to be written up. For time and personal reasons, this may not happen for a while. Instead, here is an insignificant case of no wider importance, but possibly some entertainment value.’

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Nearly Legal, 3rd August 2017

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

The Sun to pay ‘substantial damages’ to ex EastEnders boss – BBC News

Posted August 4th, 2017 in damages, defamation, media, news by sally

‘The Sun newspaper is to pay “substantial damages” to former EastEnders boss Sean O’Connor, after wrongly accusing him of bullying.’

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BBC News, 4th August 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Millwall owner gets apology and £45,000 from Steve Norris over defamatory tweet – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2017 in costs, defamation, news by tracey

‘The former Conservative cabinet minister Steve Norris has agreed to pay £45,000 in costs and issue a public apology to Millwall’s owner, John Berylson, over a comment made by Norris on Twitter.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Boost for legal bloggers after High Court throws out libel claim against barrister – Legal Futures

Posted July 17th, 2017 in barristers, defamation, internet, news, privilege, striking out by tracey

‘The growing ranks of legal bloggers commenting on often sensitive court rulings have been given comfort after a libel claim brought against a barrister who wrote about one on his personal website was struck out.’

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Legal Futures, 17th July 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Injunction halts ‘fake news’ campaign against UK businessman – The Guardian

Posted July 10th, 2017 in defamation, injunctions, internet, news, precedent by sally

‘Lawyers have tackled an online “fake news” campaign against a British businessman by serving an injunction against “persons unknown” in what is believed to set a legal precedent.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Media litigators unhappy with procedure and costs budgeting – Litigation Futures

‘Lawyers and other users of the new media and communications list are unhappy with how the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) apply to the field, and particularly costs budgeting, according to the outcome of a consultation launched by Mr Justice Warby.’

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Law & Religion UK, 3rd July 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Free speech and e-media – Counsel

‘Google, Facebook, Twitter and other intermediaries increasingly face a broadly united front of protest. Is it time to regulate? asks Richard Spearman QC.’

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Counsel, June 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Range of factors behind fall in number of defamation cases, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 8th, 2017 in data protection, defamation, media, news, statistics by sally

‘A change in the law that makes it more challenging to prove defamation in England and Wales is just one reason why the number of defamation cases brought in the UK fell last year, according to a media law expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th June 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Defamation cases slump to nine-year low – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 30th, 2017 in defamation, internet, legislation, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of reported defamation cases in the UK is at the lowest level since 2008/9, partly due to the Defamation Act 2013, according to research published today.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th May 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sir Cliff Richard and BBC pause legal fight over report – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2017 in BBC, defamation, news, sexual offences by sally

‘Sir Cliff Richard and the BBC have agreed to try to reach a settlement over coverage of a police raid on the singer’s home.’

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BBC News, 5th May 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BBC attacks Sir Cliff Richard’s ‘grossly unreasonable’ spending on lawyers in his fight for damages against them – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 5th, 2017 in BBC, costs, damages, defamation, news, proportionality by tracey

‘BBC bosses say Sir Cliff Richard has spent “grossly unreasonable” amounts on lawyers after complaining about reports naming him as a suspected sex offender and taking legal action.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th May 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Anti-racist group Hope Not Hate sues Nigel Farage for libel – The Independent

Posted April 24th, 2017 in charities, damages, defamation, news by tracey

‘Anti-racist group Hope Not Hate is suing Nigel Farage for libel after he alleged that it makes use of “violence” in its campaigning.’

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The Independent, 23rd April 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Supreme Court dismisses media publishers’ appeals against costs awards – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK’s highest court has dismissed the appeals of three media publishers against costs orders made against them by High Court judges in separate libel and privacy cases.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th April 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Melania Trump accepts Daily Mail damages and apology in libel case – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2017 in damages, defamation, media, news by sally

‘The Daily Mail and Mail Online will pay damages to settle a libel claim brought against it by the US first lady Melania Trump over false claims about her work as a professional model.’

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The Guardian, 12th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Katie Hopkins and serious harm – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 10th, 2017 in costs, damages, defamation, internet, news by sally

‘Both Katie Hopkins and Jack Monroe are outspoken, including on Twitter. During anti-government protests following the 2015 general election, graffiti was sprayed on to a memorial to the women of the second world war. Hopkins tweeted at 7.20pm on 18 May: ‘@MsJackMonroe scrawled on any memorials recently? Vandalised the memory of those who fought for your freedom. Grandma got any more medals?’ Monroe responded 13 minutes later: ‘I have NEVER “scrawled on a memorial”. Brother in the RAF. Dad was a Para in the Falklands. You’re a piece of shit’. Later that evening she demanded Hopkins delete the tweet, apologise and make a £5,000 donation to charity. By 9.47pm, Hopkins, having realised she had confused Monroe with journalist Laurie Penny, had deleted the first tweet but further tweeted: ‘Can someone explain to me – in 10 words or less – the difference between irritant @PennyRed and social anthrax @MsJackMonroe.’ On 2 June, Hopkins finally tweeted a retraction, but no apology: ‘@MsJackMonroe I was confused about identity. I got it wrong.’’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th April 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk