Month: May 2019

24.05.19

MailOnline pays libel damages to barrister for false death threat allegations

The MailOnline has agreed to pay libel damages and legal costs to barrister Barbara Hewson after repeating allegations made in The Times that she was responsible for making death threats to a law student. An apology published in the MailOnline stated “An article published from 12 April 2017 reported allegations made in The Times that…

Gang members convicted in landmark ‘county lines’ human trafficking case

Three convicted young drug dealers, who were separately prosecuted for human trafficking offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, have been sentenced to between 3 and a half and 5 years’ imprisonment. The gang members, Glodi Wabelua, Dean Alford and Michael Karemera (all 25 years old)  had been convicted after a trial in February 2016…

Iain Wilson writes in the Daily Mail about the abuse of parliamentary privilege

The Daily Mail has published an article by Brett Wilson LLP partner Iain Wilson about the growing trend of parliamentary privilege being used to circumvent court orders and make statements that would otherwise be considered defamatory.  The article can be found here.

16.05.19

Paparazzi agencies pay damages to Duke of Sussex for privacy invasion

Splash News and Picture Agency Limited and Splash News & Picture Agency LLC (‘Splash’) have apologised and agreed to pay substantial damages to the Duke of Sussex after using a helicopter to take photographs of his home in the Cotswolds. In January of this year Splash chartered a helicopter which flow over the Duke’s home…

Meeting the serious harm threshold in defamation claims: Claimants gets second bite of the cherry

In the case of Tinkler v Ferguson & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 819, the Court of Appeal provided some much-needed clarification on whether a claimant is able to demonstrate by evidence at trial that a defamatory statement has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to his/her reputation after the Court has declined to…

Tommy Robinson sued for libel by 16 year old refugee

The far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is being sued for libel by Jamal Hijazi, a 16 year old Syrian refugee. A video of Hijazi, a schoolboy, being attacked and having water poured on his face caused public outcry last year and condemnation from the prime minister. The libel claim alleges…

15.05.19

Career opportunities at Brett Wilson LLP

The firm is expanding.  We are presently recruiting a solicitor and a paralegal in our media law department.  In our civil, regulatory and white collar-crime department, we are recruiting a civil litigation solicitor and a paralegal/trainee solicitor.  Full details of the role and how to apply can be found at our Careers page.

Police request access to complainants’ data: A form in a teacup?

A new standard police form requesting agreement to access complainants’ phone data has caused controversy. The not-very-snappily-titled ‘NPCC Final Consent v-1-2’ form is designed to achieve a consistent system for accessing the electronic devices of victims and witnesses. A copy is available here. This can only be done with that person’s consent. As such, the…

Supreme Court grants permission to appeal in mass data breach case

The Supreme Court has granted the defendant supermarket chain permission to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in WM Morrison Supermarkets Plc v Various Claimants [2018] EWCA Civ 2339. The appeal will consider the principle of vicarious liability in respect of statutory data protection claims and common law misuse of private information claims. The claim…

13.05.19

Is it time to stop talking about gagging clauses?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced it has referred a solicitor from magic circle firm Allen & Overy to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over drawing-up a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) on behalf of film Producer Harvey Weinstein.  It is understood the agreement, in essence, paid Mr Weinstein’s former assistant Zelda Perkins a large sum in…