Times libel ruling shows Reynolds privilege is of little practical use – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2010 in appeals, defamation, defences, media, news, public interest by sally

“News this week that veteran media lawyer Alastair Brett has parted company with the Times so soon after the court of appeal ruled against the newspaper in the Flood case comes just as I am mulling over the impact of this significant libel judgment.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Orlando Figes to pay fake Amazon review damages – BBC News

Posted July 19th, 2010 in costs, damages, defamation, internet, news by sally

“A leading historian who wrote anonymous reviews on the Amazon website praising his own work and criticising rivals is to pay libel damages and costs.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted July 16th, 2010 in appeals, defamation, internet, law reports, media, police, privilege by sally
“In a report concerning an investigation into allegations of corruption against a police officer the media were entitled in the public interest to include the specific allegations made against the officer only where the requirements of the responsible journalism defence or Reynolds privilege were met.”
WLR Daily, 15th July 2010
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Newspaper story did not qualify for responsible journalism defence, says Court of Appeal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 16th, 2010 in defamation, defences, internet, media, news by sally

“An article published by The Times did not meet the standards of responsible journalism required for a total defence against a defamation claim, the Court of Appeal has ruled.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th July 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Romanian prince wins libel battle – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 16th, 2010 in defamation, news, royal family by sally

“Prince Radu of Romania accepted a public apology and ‘substantia’ damages in the High Court in Londonover ‘extremely grave’ magazine allegations about his title.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th July 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

EasyJet founder wins Ryanair libel payout – The Independent

Posted July 15th, 2010 in advertising, airlines, damages, defamation, news by sally

“EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou accepted undisclosed libel damages today over Ryanair advertisements which accused him of lying.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Plans to reform defamation law announced – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 12th, 2010 in bills, consultations, defamation, Ministry of Justice, press releases by sally

“Plans to review the law on defamation to protect free speech and freedom of expression were outlined today by Justice Minister Lord McNally.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 9th July 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Britain’s ‘draconian’ libel laws to be reformed – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 9th, 2010 in consultations, defamation, freedom of expression, news by sally

“A consultation will take place over the summer before legislation is put before Parliament early in the New Year. Lord McNally, the Justice Secretary, said that there was growing concern about the impact on freedom of expression of the current system.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th July 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Baby P social worker wins libel compensation – The Independent

Posted July 1st, 2010 in compensation, defamation, local government, news, social services by sally

“A Haringey social worker today accepted undisclosed compensation over the authority’s false claim that she did not raise concerns about returning Baby P to his mother.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Fiddes v Channel Four Television Corporation and others – WLR Daily

Posted July 1st, 2010 in appeals, defamation, juries, law reports, media, trial without jury by sally

Fiddes v Channel Four Television Corporation and others [2010] EWCA Civ 730; [2010] WLR (D) 163

“Observations on the applicable principles as to whether there should be a trial by jury or trial by judge alone in a libel action were made by the Court of Appeal.”

WLR Daily, 30th June 2010

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.

Libel case over ‘faked’ Channel 4 Jackson family documentary dropped – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2010 in costs, defamation, fees, freedom of expression, media, news by sally

“Channel 4 has spent £1.7m defending a ‘vainglorious’ libel action over allegations it faked a documentary about Michael Jackson’s family moving to Devon.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Book review claim ‘not serious enough’ for libel action, says High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 18th, 2010 in defamation, news by sally

“A book reviewer’s slight of an author was not serious enough to form the basis of a libel case, the High Court has ruled. A threshold of seriousness must be crossed and that bar must be set high to discourage frivolous claims, the Court said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th June 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Tugendhat J redefines meaning of defamation – The Lawyer

Posted June 16th, 2010 in defamation, judgments, news by sally

“Mr Justice Tugendhat today raised the bar for defamation claims in a High Court ruling that found the definition of defamation must include a qualification or threshold of seriousness.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 16th June 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe SAS v Asda Stores Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted June 15th, 2010 in appeals, defamation, law reports, malicious falsehood by sally

Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe SAS v Asda Stores Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 609; [2010] WLR (D) 144

“The single meaning rule in defamation did not apply in claims of malicious falsehood.”

WLR Daily, 11th June 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Channel Four libel case to be heard without jury – The Lawyer

Posted June 14th, 2010 in appeals, defamation, media, news, trial without jury by sally

“The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court decision that said the libel case Fiddes v Channel Four and ors should be heard without a jury.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 10th June 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Lord Neuberger to lead appeal panel over Channel Four libel jury case – The Lawyer

Posted June 9th, 2010 in appeals, defamation, media, news, trial without jury by sally

“The Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger will examine Mr Justice Tugendhat’s decision to disallow a jury in a major libel trial against Channel Four.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 8th June 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Libel Bill gives ISPs definite 14 day window to act – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 4th, 2010 in bills, defamation, internet, news by sally

“A new libel law proposed by a Liberal Democrat peer would clarify how quickly ISPs and publishers have to act when told of a defamatory post or article. Defamatory material would not have to be taken down for 14 days, under the proposal.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 3rd June 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Lord Lester’s bill a ‘catalyst’ for libel reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 3rd, 2010 in bills, defamation, defences, news, public interest by sally

“Liberal Democrat peer and barrister Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC has introduced a private member’s bill to reform the country’s ‘archaic’ libel laws.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd June 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

What does Lord Lester’s defamation bill propose? – The Guardian

Posted May 28th, 2010 in bills, defamation, news by sally

“An analysis of Lord Lester’s private members’ defamation bill.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Steyn: Defamation and Privacy: momentum for substantive and procedural change? – The Guardian

Posted May 27th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, lectures, media, privacy by sally

“Read Lord Steyn’s Boydell lecture on defamation law and privacy in full.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk