Month: October 2014
31.10.14
Court of Appeal blocks publication of autobiography and resurrects the tort of deliberate infliction of harm
The Court of Appeal in OPO (a child by BHM his litigation friend) v MLA [2014] EWCA Civ 1277 has overturned a decision of the High Court and granted an injunction to restrain the publication of a semi-autobiographical book by a well-known performer. A book by written MLA (anonymised for the purpose of these proceedings)…
Read more30.10.14
Brett Wilson LLP Partners recognised as leading individuals by Chambers 2015 for a number of areas including criminal law and defamation/reputation management
Nick Brett and Iain Wilson have been recognised as leaders in their field in the latest edition of the prestigious Chambers and Partners directory. Extracts from the 2015 directory are reproduced below:- Defamation/Reputation Management – UK Wide Iain Wilson of Brett Wilson LLP impresses sources, one of whom notes: “More than anything else, he comes across as being…
Read more29.10.14
Serious Fraud Office to investigate Tesco
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has opened a criminal investigation into accounting practices at Tesco PLC. The announcement can be found here. Last week Tesco PLC reported that an overstatement of profits has led to a £263m shortfall in expected profits. Tesco has issued a statement:- “Tesco confirms that it has been notified by the Serious Fraud Office that…
Read more27.10.14
Lady Gaga pony libel claim settled
On 21 October 2014, the High Court considered a libel claim surrounding a polo pony named Lady Gaga in the case of Louisa Donovan and Katie Gibbons [2014] EWHC 3406 (QB). His Honour Judge Richard Parkes QC was asked to determine the meaning of a caption that accompanied Youtube videos of Lady Gaga bucking. The…
Read more20.10.14
Mail ordered to pay £45,000 in libel damages for 'foreign doctor' slur against GP
In Garcia v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2014] EWHC 3137 (QB) Mr Justice Dingemans awarded damages of £45,000 to a Spanish doctor who was libelled by the Daily Mail. The Claimant, Dr Jose Antonio Serrano Garcia, brought proceedings in the High Court after he was the subject of an article published in the Daily Mail on…
Read more13.10.14
Government to criminalise revenge porn
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has announced that the government will bring in legislation to make ‘revenge porn’ a specific criminal offence punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment. Revenge porn typically occurs where a former lover publishes intimate photographs online, without the victim’s consent, in order to punish and/or humiliate the victim. The offence will target individuals who…
Read more9.10.14
Top poker player denied £7 million winnings by High Court
American Poker player Phil Ivey has been unsuccessful in his High Court claim to force Genting Casinos to pay out £7.7m in winnings. Mr Ivey won the sum playing baccarat in August 2012 at the Crockfords Club Casino in Mayfair owned by the Defendant company. However, the casino subsequently refused to pay out and returned Mr Ivey’s £1m stake. The casino…
Read more8.10.14
The end of jury trials in libel claims?
The decision in Tim Yeo MP v Times Newspapers [2014] EWHC 2853 (QB) is the first to engage section 11 of the Defamation Act 2013, specifically that a trial is to be ‘without a jury unless the court orders otherwise’. Mr Justice Warby refused an application made by the Defendant, The Times Newspapers to proceed…
Read more2.10.14
Misuse of private information and harassment: score draw between escort and her solicitor client
In the case of AVB v TDD [2014] EWHC 1442 (QB) the Claimant, a solicitor, succeeded, in part, in claims for misuse of private information and breach of confidence, but saw claims in harassment and breach of contract dismissed, whilst the Defendant, a sex worker, succeeded in a counterclaim for harassment. Neither party was awarded…
Read more1.10.14
Brett Wilson LLP listed by Legal 500 as a leading firm in four categories
The prestigious Legal 500 directory has listed Brett Wilson LLP as a leading firm in the fields of defamation/privacy, white collar crime, civil fraud and general crime. The 2014 edition of the directory was published on 1 October 2014. This is the third consecutive year that Brett Wilson LLP has featured in the directory and the second consecutive…
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Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.
