“No revolution” says the Supreme Court as it rules on defamation – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Lachaux v Independent Print Ltd and another [2019] UKSC 27. The Supreme Court has unanimously held that the Defamation Act 2013 altered the common law presumption of general damage in defamation. It is no longer sufficient for the imposition of liability that a statement is inherently injurious or has a “tendency” to injure a claimant’s reputation. Instead, the language of section 1(1) of the Act requires a statement to produce serious harm to reputation before it can be considered defamatory.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 17th june 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Broadcasters in legal bind over reporting on Tory crisis during election – The Guardian

‘Strict broadcasting laws place restrictions on coverage of politics during voting periods.’

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The Guardian, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge “bullied” litigant in person, Court of Appeal rules – Litigation Futures

‘A High Court judge “seriously transgressed” the core principle that he remain neutral during the evidence and used bullying language against a litigant in person, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th May 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

‘Bullying’ libel judge’s dismissal of claim reversed on appeal – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Appeal judges have strongly criticised the “surprising and troubling” conduct of a High Court judge towards a litigant in person during a defamation hearing, saying he “cast off the mantle of impartiality”. Ruling in Serafin v Malkiewicz and Others, Lord Justice Lewison, Lord Justice McCombe and Lord Justice Haddon-Cave allowed an appeal against Mr Justice Jay’s dismissal of a libel claim against a London Polish-language newspaper.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th May 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge hits out at “irresponsible” media reporting of case on capacity to consent to sex – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 16th, 2019 in consent, Court of Protection, judges, local government, media, news by sally

‘A Court of Protection judge has strongly criticised media reporting of a case involving whether a woman had the capacity to consent to sex with her husband.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ofcom investigating CGTN for allegedly airing forced confession – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2019 in China, complaints, media, news, ombudsmen, privacy by tracey

‘The UK broadcasting regulator has launched a formal investigation into an allegation that China Global Television Network (CGTN), the international news channel of China Central Television (CCTV), aired a confession forced from a British private investigator while imprisoned in China.’

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The Guardian, 8th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Straining the Alphabet Soup: Part 1 — Anonymity orders in Personal Injury proceedings – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Amendments to CPR r.39.2; new Guidance issued by the Master of the Rolls; and a recent High Court decision refusing anonymity to a claimant prompt this review of anonymity orders in personal injury proceedings.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 30th April 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Private Lives and Public Sorrows – Family Law Week

‘Hazel Wright, Partner with Hunters Solicitors, highlights three cases which have emphasised the usefulness to family lawyers of the Human Rights Act.’

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Family Law Week, 30th April 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

UK-based TV station fined for anti-Ahmadi Muslim hate speech – The Guardian

Posted April 15th, 2019 in fines, hate crime, Islam, media, news by michael

‘A UK-based TV station has been fined £75,000 by Ofcom after broadcasting hate speech about the Ahmadi community, amid growing fears that the religious group is facing persecution.’

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The Guardian, 15th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ofcom investigating ‘white people’ remark by Jon Snow – The Guardian

Posted April 9th, 2019 in brexit, complaints, demonstrations, media, news by sally

‘The media regulator has launched an investigation into comments made by the Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, who said of a pro-Brexit protest that he had “never seen so many white people in one place”.’

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The Guardian, 8th April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Syrian refugee ‘attack’: 16-year-old boy given police caution over incident at Huddersfield school – The Independent

‘A boy accused of attacking a Syrian refugee at their school in Huddersfield has been given a police caution.’

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The Independent, 29th March 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Iran TV station did not break rules over interview praising attack – Ofcom – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2019 in codes of practice, complaints, Iran, media, news, ombudsmen, terrorism by sally

‘Iran International did not breach the broadcasting code by interviewing a spokesman for a separatist group who praised last September’s terrorist attack in the Iranian city of Ahvaz, the British regulator Ofcom has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 26th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Angela Wrightson: Killer girls bid to extend anonymity – BBC News

‘Two girls who were 13 and 14 when they murdered a vulnerable alcoholic in her own home are taking legal action to remain anonymous into adulthood.’

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BBC News, 26th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court: Media accused barrister of making death threats – Legal Futures

Posted March 26th, 2019 in barristers, bullying, defamation, harassment, media, news by sally

‘Barrister Barbara Hewson was accused by The Times and MailOnline of making death threats to a law student and subjecting him to “repeated acts of harassment and online bullying”, the High Court has held.’

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Legal Futures, 26th March 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tax tribunal: presenter Lorraine Kelly not ’employee’ of ITV – OUT-LAW.com

‘TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has won an employment tax case against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), after the first-tier tribunal found that she was not an ’employee’ of ITV to whom the IR35 disguised employment provisions should apply.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd March 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

What’s in a name? High Court considers anonymity order in sensitive claim – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Claimant became pregnant in 2012 but, tragically, the baby died in utero and was stillborn in May 2013. The Claimant claimed damages to represent the loss of the pregnancy and also for a psychiatric injury which she suffered due to the stillbirth.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 14th March 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Winstone v MGN- 39 Essex Chambers

‘In this article Richard Spearman QC discusses the issues raised in Winstone and Others v MGN Ltd [2019] EWHC (Ch) 265 in which he represented the defendant. The application arose in the Mirror Newspapers Hacking Litigation, and concerned the extent to which materials subject to legal professional privilege remained susceptible to protection after they had been pleaded by claimants.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 28th February 2019

Source: www.39essex.com

Ep 72: Fleet Street Law Legend – Frances Gibb – Law Pod UK

Posted March 12th, 2019 in legal profession, media, news, podcasts by sally

‘Frances Gibb has retired after nearly forty years as legal journalist and editor, covering everything from Lord Irvine’s pricey wallpaper to the release of the Guildford Four. She talks to Rosalind English about the challenges of reporting on a profession highly sensitive to slips and slights.’

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Law Pod UK, 11th March 2019

Source: audioboom.com

Digital ad market under fresh scrutiny amid competition concerns – The Guardian

Posted February 13th, 2019 in advertising, competition, inquiries, internet, media, news, public interest by sally

‘Facebook and Google could be forced to open up their businesses and share details of how their advertising model works, after the government backed an investigation into concerns that their dominance of the online advertising business is hurting news publishers.’

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The Guardian, 12th February 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Facebook and Google news should be regulated, Cairncross Review says – BBC News

Posted February 12th, 2019 in BBC, internet, media, news, public interest, reports by tracey

‘A regulator should oversee tech giants like Google and Facebook to ensure their news content is trustworthy, a government-backed report has suggested.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk