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25.09.13

Brett Wilson LLP listed in Legal 500 in four categories

Brett Wilson LLP has been listed in the 2013 edition of the Legal 500 in four separate categories: Defamation and Privacy, Fraud/White Collar Crime, Crime and Fraud/Civil. The directory lists firms who have been recognised as being leaders in a particular field. Partners Nick Brett and Iain Wilson were also separately recommended in the editorial sections…

18.09.13

Government launches consultation on defamation/privacy costs protection proposals

The Ministry of Justice has published details of its proposals for a cost protection regime in defamation and privacy cases.   The proposals follow Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendation that an adequate costs protection system be put in place for defamation and privacy cases (and harassment cases involving the media) once the cost of ‘after the event insurance’ policies cease to be recoverable from the…

16.09.13

Court will not accept jurisdiction for internet libel where there is no evidence of readership in England

The majority of internet publications can be viewed from anywhere in the world, and therefore the possibility exists for people to bring libel proceedings in the English High Court for defamatory content originally published on the other side of the globe.  This is a potentially attractive option where the home of the original publication is…

27.08.13

Armstrong settles sunday Times claim

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has settled a claim by the sunday Times to recover a libel settlement won against the paper in 2006. In 2004 the sunday Times serialised a book by its journalists David Walsh and Alan English which alleged professional doping by cycling teams including that of Armstrong.  Armstrong sued for libel and…

7.08.13

High Court refuses to strike out libel claim arising from mailshot

In the case of (1) Mama Group Ltd (2) Lovebox Festivals Ltd v (1) Daniel sinclair (2) Alexandra Joseph [2013] EWHC 2374, the applicants request for a libel claim to be stuck out as an ‘abuse of process’ was refused. The applicants had been attending the Lovebox music festival held in Victoria Park, London organised by…

6.08.13

Cruddas and Times Newspapers rages on; record costs bill expected

Times Newspapers Ltd, publishers of the sunday Times, will seek to appeal a High Court ruling that the paper libelled former Conservative Party treasurer Peter Cruddas over claims that he sold access to the Prime Minister.    The case revolves around a meeting between then-Tory treasurer Cruddas and undercover journalists posing as financiers and potential…

31.07.13

The sunday Times apologises to ex-partner of Belle de Jour author

The sunday Times has made a formal apology in the High Court to Owen Morris, former partner of Belle De Jour author Brooke Magnanti, and agreed to pay substantial damages and legal costs over allegations made in the newspaper in 2010. Belle de Jour was initially a popular anonymous blog that documented Magnanti’s encounters as a London prostitute, as well as…

24.07.13

High Court hears internet contempt trials

The Attorney-General has appeared in person before the High Court to ask that two men be committed to jail for “acts likely to interfere with the administration of justice”.  In both instances the acts arise  from the use of the internet whilst jurors in criminal trial.  In an indication of how seriously the courts are treating the issue of internet use…

28.06.13

Appeal allowed in Downing street Cash for Access Libel Claim

On 21 June 2013 the Court of Appeal overturned Mr Justice Tugendhats decision in the libel case of Peter Cruddas v (1) Jonathan Calvert (2) Heidi Blake (3) Times Newspapers Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 748. The Claimant Peter Cruddas is a former Conservative Party co-treasurer who brought libel and malicious falsehood proceedings against two journalists and…

County Court has power to refer contempt cases to Attorney-General

In the case of Utopia Tableware LTD v (1) BBP Marketing Ltd (2) British Bung Manufacturing Co Ltd [2013] EWPCC 28 Mr Justice Birss (sitting as a judge of the Patents County Court) ruled judges in the County Court are able to refer matters to the Attorney-General to consider whether contempt of court proceedings should be brought. The background to…