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

Laurence Fox ordered to pay £180,000 to two people he called ‘paedophiles’ – The Guardian

Posted April 26th, 2024 in damages, defamation, internet, news, racism by sally

‘The actor and rightwing activist Laurence Fox has been ordered to pay £90,000 each in damages to two people he libelled by referring to them as “paedophiles” on social media.’

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The Guardian, 25th April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

SLAPP campaigners call for ‘objective’ test in new law – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 12th, 2024 in bills, defamation, freedom of expression, human rights, news by sally

‘Prominent human rights lawyers Helena Kennnedy KC and Mark Stephens are among the legal signatories to a letter calling for a simpler test for a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) in legislation aimed at curbing abusive litigation.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th April 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK science minister apologises and pays damages after academic’s libel action – The Guardian

‘Michelle Donelan, the science minister, has apologised and paid damages after accusing two academics of “sharing extremist views” and one of them of supporting Hamas.’

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The Guardian, 5th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawyers question effectiveness of new anti-SLAPPs law – Legal Futures

Posted February 26th, 2024 in bills, costs, defamation, freedom of expression, news by sally

‘The government last week backed a private member’s bill aimed at extending the new law on SLAPPs beyond economic crime to all types of litigation.’

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Legal Futures, 26th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Laurence Fox loses High Court battle after calling two people paedophiles on social media – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2024 in defamation, internet, media, news by sally

‘The actor Laurence Fox has lost his High Court libel battle with two people he referred to as paedophiles on social media.’

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The Independent, 29th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Case preview: George v Cannell and Anor – UKSC Blog

Posted December 13th, 2023 in appeals, damages, defamation, malicious falsehood, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘This case is concerned with what a respondent needs to demonstrate to take advantage of the Defamation Act 1952 (the “1952 Act”), s 3(1), in a claim for malicious falsehood and avoid the need to prove special damage.’

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UKSC Blog, 11th December 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

Prince Harry loses battle to get Mail on Sunday defence thrown out in libel case – BBC News

Posted December 8th, 2023 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, police, royal family by michael

‘Prince Harry has lost an attempt to get part of the Mail on Sunday publishers’ defence thrown out in a libel case.’

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BBC News, 8th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

James Dyson loses libel claim against Daily Mirror publisher – The Guardian

Posted December 4th, 2023 in brexit, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by sally

‘Sir James Dyson has lost his libel claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror after a columnist at the newspaper stated that he had “championed Vote Leave … before moving his global head office to Singapore”.’

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The Guardian, 1st December 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal refuses permission to appeal in high-profile defamation claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 24th, 2023 in appeals, data protection, defamation, freedom of expression, news by sally

‘Court of Appeal judges have refused permission to appeal in the latest court hearing of a high-profile defamation action brought by a Conservative Party donor against a former Tory MP.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitor accepts “substantial damages” over Times libel – Legal Futures

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in compensation, defamation, media, news, solicitors by sally

‘A solicitor whose political ambitions were derailed by a libellous article about his legal work for miners has accepted “substantial” damages from The Times.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

News focus: Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 13th, 2023 in bills, damages, defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, public interest by sally

‘While the king’s speech pledged “legislation to protect public interest journalism”, a new Media Bill fails to address SLAPPs. This has sparked renewed calls to extend corrective measures beyond economic crime.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th November 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘Designed to distress and deter’: the impact of Slapp lawsuits on journalists and free speech – The Guardian

Posted November 6th, 2023 in defamation, disclosure, freedom of expression, human rights, media, news, Russia by sally

‘Individuals and campaigners tell of damage done by powerful people using the courts to try to shut down investigative reporting.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Andy McDonald sues Tory MP who accused him of ‘seeking to justify’ Hamas atrocity – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2023 in damages, defamation, Israel, news, political parties, war by sally

‘A suspended Labour MP is suing the Conservative MP Chris Clarkson, who accused him of “seeking to justify the murderous actions of Hamas” in the Israel-Hamas conflict.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronation arrests: Republic leader Graham Smith takes legal action – BBC News

Posted September 13th, 2023 in damages, defamation, human rights, judicial review, news, police, royal family, wrongful arrest by sally

‘A republican protester detained on the day of King Charles’ Coronation is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police.’

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BBC News, 12th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK Government launches taskforce to stop ‘devastating’ lawsuits against journalists – The Independent

Posted September 11th, 2023 in bills, defamation, government departments, media, news, privacy by sally

‘The Government has launched a new taskforce which aims to put a stop to lawsuits that have a “devastating” impact on journalists. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will meet groups from the media and legal sectors on Monday as they try to end legal threats, known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (Slapps).’

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The Independent, 11th September 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk