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8.07.21
Wagatha Christie: Court rules on strike out and summary judgment application
Background The ‘Wagatha Christie litigation’, as it is affectionately known, is the fascinating case of mistrust between friends and a sting operation to find a leak. Colleen Rooney (wife of footballer Wayne) became concerned that ‘stories’ she was publishing to her private Instagram account – to which only her actual friends had access – were…
Read more10.06.21
#MeToo allegations and trigger warnings: when sensitivity can backfire
When a person chooses to make #metoo allegations on social media, there is almost always going to be some risk that they are exposing themselves to potential defamation proceedings. The easiest way to limit exposure is to avoid naming the accused person, or including information that may identify them. Many people, however, feel compelled to…
Read more9.06.21
Number of defamation claims issued falls by over 50%
Annual data published on 3 June 2021 shows that defamation claims issued in 2020 in the Royal Courts of Justice (where the vast majority of defamation claims are issued) have fallen from 323 in 2019 to just 152 in 2020. The statistics show a continuing trend of claims being brought against non-media defendants (e.g. bloggers…
Read more25.05.21
Claimant’s search for vindication backfires with finding he committed a serious sexual assault and could be described as a rapist
In Coker v Nwkanma [2021] EWHC 1011 (QB), the Claimant sued his former friend over an allegation that he had sexually assaulted a woman – anonymised in the proceedings as ‘X’ – at the Defendant’s home. Both parties were litigants-in-person, and, by the time the proceedings came to trial before Saini J, there remained ambiguities…
Read more10.12.20
The Times pays libel damages to barrister Barbara Hewson over death threat allegations
Times Newspapers Limited has agreed to pay libel damages and legal costs to barrister Barbara Hewson after reporting that she was accused of making death threats and persistent nuisance phone calls to a law student in complaints to the Bar Standards Board and Leicestershire police. Neither the Bar Standards Board nor Leicestershire police pursued the…
Read more27.11.20
Tutors awarded £30,000 in libel damages after Facebook slur
In Antony & anr v Sivakumar, Richard Spearman QC, sitting as a deputy judge of the High Court, delivered an ex tempore judgment in which he ordered the defendant to pay both claimants £15,000 in damages. The Defendant had published a pseudonymous Facebook ‘review’ on the Claimants’ business page which made a false allegation of…
Read more10.11.20
High Court finds wife-beating allegations against Johnny Depp to be substantially true. Should libel claimants be nervous?
The recent libel judgment handed down in Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2020] EWHC 2911 (QB) has made headlines around the world and has captured the attention of the public. It has also been a devastating personal blow for Mr Depp. He was faced with a libel claimant’s nightmare scenario: a Court finding…
Read more22.10.20
Brett Wilson LLP and its lawyers recommended in Chambers and Partners 2021 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 being an ‘astute and bold lawyer who is not afraid to take on any sort of challenge in media and civil litigation. He has an impressive creative and courageous edge…
Read more29.07.20
Rachel Riley and Tracy Ann Oberman withdraw libel claim against barrister and agree contribution to her legal costs
Rachel Riley and Tracy Ann Oberman have agreed to withdraw their libel claim against immigration barrister Jane Heybroek. A copy of Ms Heybroek’s statement on the matter can be found here. Jane Heybroek was represented by Max Campbell and Iain Wilson of Brett Wilson LLP and Ian Helme of Matrix Chambers. If you have…
Read more23.07.20
How legal crowdfunding can help you bring/defend a case
We are all familiar with the concept of crowdfunding, whether in the context of supporting a new business venture or contributing to a worthy cause. Crowdfunding is now becoming an established method of funding a legal case – whether it is the pursuit of a claim or the defence of criminal proceedings. In the legal…
Read moreLegal Disclaimer
Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.
