MoJ considers £5,000 costs cap to protect defendants against SLAPPs – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has suggested that people defending themselves from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) could be protected by a £5,000 costs cap.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

A victory for public interest journalism – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 21st, 2022 in defamation, media, news, public interest by sally

‘On 13 June Arron Banks’ libel claim against Carol Cadwalladr was dismissed, in a significant victory for public interest journalism (Arron Banks v Carole Cadwalladr [2022] EWHC 1417 (QB)).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th July 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

English courts get new powers to dismiss Slapp cases against reporters – The Guardian

Posted July 20th, 2022 in abuse of process, freedom of expression, media, news, public interest by sally

‘Courts in England and Wales are to be granted new powers to dismiss lawsuits employed by wealthy claimants to stifle free speech, the government has said.’

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The Guardian, 20th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Woman kept in police cell for 36 hours after stillbirth due to suspicions she had ‘illegal abortion’ – The Independent

‘A woman was kept in police custody for 36 hours after having a stillbirth because of suspicions she had an abortion after the legal cut-off point, it has been claimed.’

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The Independent, 5th July 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Watchdogs condemn police response to domestic abuse claims against officers – The Guardian

‘Police forces in England and Wales are responding to reports of their own officers committing domestic abuse in a way that is “significantly harming the public interest”, with just 9% of such allegations leading to criminal charges, a joint watchdog investigation has found.’

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The Guardian, 30th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA seeks whistleblowing role as part of SLAPPs action – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is set to make it easier for law firm staff to blow the whistle on their employers, as part of its work on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).’

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Legal Futures, 23rd June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Arron Banks loses libel action against reporter Carole Cadwalladr – The Guardian

Posted June 14th, 2022 in defamation, media, news, public interest by sally

‘The multimillionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks has lost his libel action against the Observer and Guardian journalist Carole Cadwalladr, in a significant decision for public interest journalism.’

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The Guardian, 13th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equalising goal: Law Society proposes SLAPP curbs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 19th, 2022 in costs, freedom of expression, Law Society, news, public interest by sally

‘The Law Society has today echoed calls for a clampdown on so-called “lawfare”, but warned of “unintended consequences” if reforms are not properly thought through.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BBC to air MI5 agent investigation following High Court ruling – The Independent

Posted May 19th, 2022 in anonymity, BBC, informers, intelligence services, news, public interest by sally

‘The BBC said a High Court ruling will allow it to broadcast a programme about a man it is claimed exploited his status as an MI5 informant.’

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The Independent, 18th May 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dual national Pakistani killer who renounced British citizenship loses deportation battle in Court of Appeal – EIN Blog

‘Zulfiqar v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWCA Civ 492 (14 April 2022). In this important judgment on deportation, dual nationality, foreign criminals, executive powers and duties, proportionality, public interest and the right to respect for private and family life, the Court of Appeal has unanimously held that a person’s status as a foreign criminal status within the meaning of section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007 and section 117C of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 has to be determined at the date of the decision to make a deportation order.’

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EIN Blog, 13th May 2022

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Judge throws out most of Swedish businessman’s libel claim in England – The Guardian

‘A British judge has thrown out large parts of a libel action by a Swedish businessman who tried to sue journalists writing about his company before its flotation on a Norwegian stock exchange.’

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The Guardian, 11th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Freedom of Information Act does not allow aggregation of separate public interests in maintaining different exemptions when weighing them against public interest in disclosure: Upper Tribunal – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”) does not permit aggregation of the separate public interests in favour of maintaining different exemptions when weighing the maintenance of the exemptions against the public interest which favours disclosure of the information sought, the Upper Tribunal has ruled.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Legal regulators “need to do more” in dealing with SLAPPs – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Bar Standards Board and other legal regulators need to do more to deal with SLAPPs – strategic lawsuits against public participation – because they are undermining the profession’s reputation, a report has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 26th April 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BBC blocked from naming alleged MI5 informant accused of abusing women – The Guardian

‘The BBC has been banned from identifying a “dangerous extremist and misogynist” who is allegedly an MI5 informant, after a high court judge granted an injunction.’

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The Guardian, 7th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court to rule on bid for injunction to block BBC story over ‘MI5 informant’ – The Independent

‘The High Court is due to give a ruling on whether the BBC can identify a “dangerous extremist and misogynist” who is allegedly an MI5 informant.’

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The Independent, 6th April 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Court of Protection and transparency – Local Government Lawyer

‘Lauren Gardner analyses a Court of Protection ruling on whether proceedings in relation to a 21-year-old woman should be open to the public and whether the judgment should be published.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Guardian wins legal challenge over access to employment tribunal papers – The Guardian

‘Journalists should be provided with access to documents from employment tribunal cases even in the aftermath of a judgment, it has been ruled, after a successful legal challenge by the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 22nd March 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anonymity: politics, polarisation and the public interest – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In the politically-charged and at times feverish aftermath of the Brexit referendum, Gina Miller became a “magnet for hatred” for exercising her right of access to courts and winning two landmark public law cases against the UK Government. The magnitude and ferocity of abuse directed at Gina Miller made those who followed in her footsteps wary enough to seek anonymity. In Yalland and others v Brexit Secretary, 4 claimants were granted anonymity in relation to a judicial review claim concerning UK participation in the European Economic Area Agreement.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th March 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Protecting the identity of a child whose sibling has been killed by their parents – Transparency Project

‘This was the issue in the landmark human rights case, Re S [2004] UKHL 47, in which Lord Steyn formulated the test in balancing privacy interests under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights with freedom of expression interests under Article 10. Lord Steyn’s formula is relied on (or should be) every time the media argue that it’s in the public interest to breach someone’s Article 8 rights. Likewise, every time an individual argues their privacy rights outweigh freedom of expression, we go to Re S.’

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Transparency Project, 8th March 2022

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Court bid to prevent BBC airing MI5 agent probe – BBC News

‘The government wants to stop a BBC programme that alleges an MI5 agent is a dangerous extremist and misogynist, who abused two former female partners.’

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BBC News, 24th February 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk