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29.02.24
The Online Safety Act 2023: nine new criminal offences come into force
In an increasingly digital world, where our lives are intertwined with online platforms and social media networks, ensuring safety and security in the virtual realm has become paramount. Governments worldwide are continuously refining legislation to address the challenges posed by the digital landscape. One such significant step is the enactment of the Online Safety Act…
Read more7.02.24
Brett Wilson LLP partners listed in the 2024 edition of the Spear’s 500 as top/recommended reputation lawyers
Brett Wilson LLP partners Iain Wilson and Max Campbell have been listed in the 2024 edition of the prestigious Spear’s 500 as ‘top recommended’ and ‘recommended’ reputation lawyers respectively. The recommendations can be found here and here.
Read more3.02.24
When can a libel be defended as honest opinion?
The recent judgment in Dyson v MGN Limited [2023] EWHC 3092, in which the Defendant publisher succeeded in its defence of honest opinion, provides important authority on the interpretation of section 3(4)(a) of the Defamation Act 2013. This decision, as well as the Court of Appeal’s decision in Riley v Murray [2022] EWCA Civ 1146,…
Read more9.01.24
Reverse summary judgment application fails in claim against Geo TV
On 27 November 2023, the High Court handed down judgment on the Defendant’s application for summary judgment in Iqbal v GEO TV Ltd [2023] EWHC 3024 (KB) Background This claim has its origins in the fractious arena of Pakistani politics. The Claimant Salman Iqbal is the founder and president of ARY Digital Network, one of…
Read more22.11.23
Seeking default judgment on defamation claims
It is not uncommon for defendants to fail to respond to a claim against them. Indeed, around 90% of the 1.5 million claims issued in England and Wales each year are undefended. When that happens, the usual course for a claimant is to request or apply for default judgment, which in most cases is entered…
Read more21.11.23
Is it safe to use AI for legal research? Not yet
The development and use of AI (artificial intelligence) has increased dramatically in the past year. Widely available AI apps can be used to ask complex questions and immediately receive ostensibly sophisticated answers. The use of AI has extended to the legal sector where chatbots can be used to search for cases relating to a particular…
Read more13.11.23
Court rules on meaning in Noel Clarke’s defamation claim against The Guardian
As many readers will know, Noel Clarke, the actor perhaps best known for his roles in three films constituting The Hood Trilogy and the television series Bulletproof, has sued The Guardian newspaper for libel and breach of his data protection rights in respect of eight articles in which he was accused of various forms of…
Read more1.11.23
Press statement: Caroline Ley
This press statement has been issued following the handing down of Mr Justice Julian Knowles’ judgment in Crosbie v Ley [2023] EWHC 2626 (KB) Our client Caroline Ley is relieved by the outcome of these proceedings which fully vindicate her and highlight the harassment she has suffered at the hands of her former colleague and…
Read morePsychotherapist awarded £75,000 in libel and harassment damages after former colleague found to have pursued a targeted public vendetta and false passing off claim
On 1 November 2023, the High Court handed down judgment in Crosbie v Ley [2023] EWHC 2626 (KB). The Defendant, Siobhain Crosbie, sued the Claimant, Caroline Ley, for passing off. She sought damages of £1.4 million, plus interest. Ms Ley counterclaimed for libel, harassment, and breach of data protection rights. Mr Justice Julian Knowles dismissed…
Read more25.10.23
#MeToo six years on: how the courts are handling sexual misconduct defamation claims
Whilst the origins of the MeToo movement date back to 2006, the movement exploded in 2017 with the help of a Twitter hashtag. Victims of sexual misconduct across the world were encouraged to speak out. In 2017 we considered the legal issues arising from making allegations of sexual misconduct online and asked whether it was…
Read moreLegal Disclaimer
Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.