Slapps used to silence whistleblowers should be outlawed, says group of MPs – The Guardian

‘Excessive legal threats used to silence those who tried to expose the Post Office Horizon scandal and allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed should be outlawed, a cross-party group of MPs have said.’

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The Guardian, 21st November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tommy Robinson jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2024 in contempt of court, defamation, guilty pleas, injunctions, news, sentencing by tracey

‘The far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been jailed for 18 months for contempt of court for repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee, in breach of an injunction.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court orders parties to engage in ADR over costs – Legal Futures

Posted October 16th, 2024 in civil procedure rules, costs, defamation, dispute resolution, media, news by sally

‘A ruling that a former Conservative MP and a national newspaper must engage in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) before their argument over costs can be heard is a landmark that could herald the start of a new era, the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 16th October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

No misconduct by Rooney lawyers, judge rules – BBC News

Posted October 9th, 2024 in barristers, costs, defamation, news, professional conduct, sport by sally

‘Coleen Rooney’s lawyers did not commit misconduct, a judge has ruled, after Rebekah Vardy accused her of “deliberately” understating her legal costs during the 2022 Wagatha libel trial.’

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BBC News, 8th October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Row over ‘sheer magnitude’ of Wagatha legal bill – BBC News

Posted October 8th, 2024 in costs, defamation, media, news, privacy, sport by sally

‘The so-called Wagatha Christie dispute has gone back to the High Court, with Rebekah Vardy challenging the “sheer magnitude” of the legal costs claimed by Coleen Rooney from their 2022 libel trial.’

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BBC News, 7th October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chris Packham ‘forced to pay £200,000 to pensioner’ after libel case – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 7th, 2024 in costs, damages, defamation, news by michael

‘Chris Packham has been forced to pay £200,000 to a pensioner and country sportsman he was accused of pursuing ‘vindictively” through the courts, it has been claimed.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2024

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Harcombe / Kendrick preliminary trial judgment – 5RB

Posted July 10th, 2024 in chambers articles, defamation, media, news, public interest by tracey

‘Mr Justice Nicklin has handed down judgment on the preliminary issues that were tried between 3 and 11 July last year in Zoe Harcombe and Dr Malcolm Kendrick’s libel actions against the Mail on Sunday.’

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5RB, 25th June 2024

Source: www.5rb.com

Supreme Court allows Mueen-Uddin appeal – 5RB

‘A unanimous Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal’s and High Court’s decision to strike out the libel claim as an abuse of process.’

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5RB, 20th June 2024

Source: www.5rb.com

Joey Barton to pay Jeremy Vine £75,000 after calling him a ‘bike nonce’ – The Guardian

Posted June 19th, 2024 in damages, defamation, internet, media, news, sport by sally

‘The former footballer and manager Joey Barton has issued a public apology on the social media site X and has agreed to pay £75,000 to Jeremy Vine, after a high court ruling that calling the broadcaster a “bike nonce” on social media was defamatory.’

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The Guardian, 18th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Portrayal of character in Steve Coogan’s film The Lost King is defamatory, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2024 in artistic works, defamation, news, universities by tracey

‘The portrayal of a former university official in Steve Coogan’s film about the discovery of the remains of Richard III is defamatory, a high court judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law firm fails with defamation claim over Trustpilot reviews – Legal Futures

Posted June 14th, 2024 in causation, damages, defamation, law firms, news by sally

‘A law firm has failed in a defamation action over negative reviews about it on Trustpilot, with the High Court ruling that it could not prove they caused any financial loss.’

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Legal Futures, 14th June 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA “has gone too far” with demands in SLAPPs guidance – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) guidance on SLAPPs may go too far in requiring practitioners to ascertain the truth of their client’s case, a senior barrister has suggested.’

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Legal Futures, 10th June 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney’s ‘Wagatha Christie’ case returns to High Court – The Independent

Posted May 29th, 2024 in costs, defamation, media, news, privacy, sport by tracey

‘Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney have taken the “Wagatha Christie” case back to court for a further hearing over soaring costs.’

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The Independent, 28th May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Joey Barton calling Jeremy Vine a ‘bike nonce’ was defamatory, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted May 28th, 2024 in defamation, internet, media, news by tracey

‘The former footballer and manager Joey Barton calling the broadcaster Jeremy Vine a “bike nonce” on social media was defamatory, a high court judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK review of protest tactics expected to stop short of banning groups – The Guardian

‘A review of disruptive tactics used by protesters is expected to stop short of demanding that named groups such as Palestine Action and Just Stop Oil should be banned.’

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The Guardian, 20th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

SLAPPs: What are they? And how should defamation law be reformed to address them? – Journal of Media Law

Posted May 16th, 2024 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

‘This article examines the need for legislative reform to address the problem of strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), with a focus on defamation law as the most common action for such claims. It draws upon legislative and judicial approaches from a range of different jurisdictions to define the problem of SLAPPs and examines whether the existing law in England and Wales provides an adequate solution to the problem of SLAPPs. This analysis indicates some important recent developments in the law that are relevant to SLAPPs but concludes that legislative reform is necessary to address the problem of SLAPPs. In contrast to the current proposals for reform, the article proposes an anti-SLAPP provision that crystallizes and builds upon recent developments in the law, to effectively address the problem of SLAPPs without posing an unnecessary risk of the denial of innocent claims.’

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Journal of Media Law, 13th May 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Ordinary reference and reference innuendo – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 15th, 2024 in coronavirus, defamation, news, parliament, striking out by sally

‘Judgment has been handed down in the strike-out application brought by Matt Hancock MP in respect of a defamation claim brought against him by Andrew Bridgen MP.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 14th May 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Peers support widening SRA’s fining and investigative powers – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) needs more powers to prevent misconduct by law firms involved in strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), peers have urged.’

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Legal Futures, 15th May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Diana chauffeur and BBC agree payout over claim Martin Bashir slandered him – The Guardian

Posted May 15th, 2024 in BBC, defamation, media, news, royal family by sally

‘The BBC has agreed to pay “substantial” compensation to Diana, Princess of Wales’s chauffeur to settle a claim he was slandered by the disgraced broadcaster Martin Bashir.’

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The Guardian, 14th May 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA seeks power to launch “spot checks” of law firms – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has called for the power to launch “wide-sweeping inspections” of law firms without needing the trigger of a specific allegation of misconduct.’

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Legal Futures, 8th May 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk