Defamation/ Libel
17.12.19
Harassment by publication: has the threshold been raised? Should the rule against prior restraint apply to interim injunctive relief?
In Jagwani v Alles [2019] EWHC 2887 (QB), Mr Justice Murray refused the Claimant’s application for an interim injunction to prevent alleged harassment by the Defendant through her publication of defamatory content. The judgment raises a number of interesting legal issues about the threshold for establishing harassment and the applicability of the rules against prior…
Read more27.11.19
Claimant who refused to tell the court or his opponent who he was runs out of track
In ABC v Google LLC [2019] EWHC 3020 (QB) the High Court dismissed the latest attempt by an anonymous litigant-in-person (‘ABC’) to continue his ‘right to be forgotten’ claim against Google. The claim concerned Google’s failure to block access to historic news reports concerning ABC (whomever he may be). Extraordinarily, ABC pursued his claim for…
Read more24.10.19
The Times and The Daily Telegraph pay libel damages to Treasury Counsel over alleged errors in Ben Stokes prosecution
The Times and Daily Telegraph have agreed to pay libel damages and legal costs to Treasury Counsel Alison Morgan QC after suggesting that she was facing criticism for selecting the wrong charges in the 2018 prosecution of international cricketer Ben Stokes and responsible for a decision not to charge fellow England cricketer Alex Hales. The…
Read more22.10.19
Injunction granted in STI blackmail case
Often it can be difficult to predict with any certainty whether a Court will grant interim injunctive relief. Combine, however, an extremely wealthy claimant, the subject matter of his sex life, a freely entered into confidentiality agreement, the absence of a genuine public interest, a blackmail threat and Adam Speker, the barrister who is fast-becoming…
Read more10.10.19
Brett Wilson LLP and its lawyers recommended in Chambers and Partners 2020 directory
Brett Wilson LLP’s Defamation/Reputation Management and Criminal Defence teams have again been recommended by the prestigious Chambers and Partners directory. Partners Iain Wilson (noted for ‘finding solutions to problems that appear impenetrable’) and Max Campbell (described as ‘well regarded in the market for his notable expertise’) have been ranked as leading lawyers in Defamation/Reputation Management. …
Read more27.09.19
Brett Wilson LLP’s departments and lawyers ranked as leaders in their fields in the Legal 500
Brett Wilson LLP has been ranked in three categories in the prestigious Legal 500 directory of leading law firms:- Reputation Management Professional Discipline Crime (General) In addition, media law partners Iain Wilson (described as an ‘innovator’) and Max Campbell (‘thoughtful, high-quality lawyer’) and solicitors Tom Double and Elisabeth Mason have been individually recognised by the directory….
Read more19.09.19
Publishing hyperlinks: can you be liable for linking to defamatory content?
In a detailed judgment in the case of Caine v Advertiser And Times Ltd & Ors [2019] EWHC 2278 (QB), Richard Spearman QC, sitting as a Deputy Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division, was asked to consider, amongst other things, whether the Second and Third Defendants were liable as publishers of defamatory content found on the First Defendant’s Facebook page because they had provided hyperlinks…
Read more20.08.19
New rules for media and communications claims
From 1 October 2019 new rules – in the form of a revised Part 53 of the Civil Procedure Rules, revised/new practice directions (PD 7A, 53A and 53B) and an all encompassing pre-action protocol – will apply to claims in England and Wales arising from media and communications disputes. The formal designation of a specialist…
Read more7.08.19
Elisabeth Mason joins Brett Wilson LLP’s media law team
On 5 August 2019 Elisabeth Mason joined Brett Wilson LLP’s media law department. Elisabeth is a highly-regarded solicitor specialising in defamation, privacy, harassment and data protection law. Elisabeth joins the firm from Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP and has been involved in recent high-profile cases including Zahir Monir v Steve Wood [2018] EWHC 3525 (QB). Elisabeth’s…
Read more2.08.19
Court refuses routine NPO disclosure application due to lack of “genuine intention”
In Mircom International and Golden Eye International v Virgin Media and Persons Unknown [2019] EWHC 1827 (Ch) the High Court declined to order Virgin Media to hand over the IP addresses of persons who had allegedly downloaded and shared pornographic films in breach of copyright. The internet and broadband provider resisted the application of Mircom and…
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Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.