Skip to main content

All posts


24.02.15

IPCC caseworkers obtain harassment injunctions after internet abuse campaign

In Coulson & Ors v Wilby [2014] EWHC 3404 (QB) the High Court granted interim harassment injunctions to protect three caseworkers from the Independent Police Complaints Commission who were being harassed by two separate defendants.  The applications were framed in harassment but the claim forms indicated that the Claimants’ relied on actions in defamation, harassment,…

Read more

16.02.15

Judgment provides some guidance on approach to costs budgeting in libel cases

In a recent case management conference in the ongoing Yeo v Times Newspapers libel litigation (also see our blog ‘The End of Juries in Libel Trials?’), Mr Justice Warby QC gave a written Judgment ([2015] EWHC 209 (QB)), which provides some guidance on the issue of costs budgeting in libel cases.  Warby J noted that ‘although costs budgeting…

Read more

27.01.15

High Court dismisses application by Google to strike out Mosley claim

In Mosley v Google [2015] EWHC 59 (QB) Google sought to strike out a claim brought by former Formula One President Max Mosley.  Mosley is seeking damages and an injunction, under Section 10 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (‘DPA 1998’).  The injunction is sought to block access to still images and edited footage from its…

Read more

26.01.15

Rihanna defeats appeal by Topshop in T-shirt ‘passing off’ claim

In Robyn Rihanna Fenty and others –v- Arcadia Group Brands Limited and another ([2015]  EWCA Civ 3), lawyers for Topshop sought unsuccessfully to set aside last year’s finding in the High Court that the clothing store was liable for ‘passing off’ under common law for the unauthorised use of the singer’s image on T-shirts. Topshop had obtained…

Read more

23.01.15

Mirror Group Newspapers settle phone-hacking claims in High Court

The High Court on 22 January 2015 heard that a number of celebrities (including Cilla Black, Darren Day, Peter Andre and Jessie Wallace) had settled their claims against the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for phone hacking that was alleged to have taken place between 2000 and 2006.  The claims for misuse of private information related…

Read more

1.12.14

Times Newspapers Ltd apologise to solicitors for false and damaging article

In a statement in open court, Times Newspapers Limited has apologised to the law firm Hodge Jones & Allen LLP for ‘false and damaging statements’ published in The Times newspaper.   The Claimant, a well-known London firm, had been the subject of a front page article published on 26 June 2014 by the Defendant. The article…

Read more

£443,000 awarded in libel special damages claim

In ReachLocal UK Ltd and another v Jamie Bennett and others [2014] EWHC 3405 (QB), the Claimants (both subsidiaries of an international online marketing group) sued for defamation following a campaign to discredit them by a former affiliate company and individuals connected to it.  Emails were sent to customers of the Claimants suggesting that the…

Read more

12.11.14

Defendant spared immediate custodial sentence despite repeated breaches of harassment injunctions

In ABC v DEF [2014] EWHC 3346 (QB), the Claimant applied for committal of the Defendant to prison for contempt of court.  The Claimant lives in London with his wife and children.  The Defendant was his brother-in-law, who had lived in the United States for many years.  The Claimant had provided financial support to the Defendant…

Read more

5.11.14

Brett Wilson LLP civil fraud solicitors discuss a case where an innocent wife was unable to defeat claim for civil recovery order

In National Crime Agency v Azam (No 2) [2014] EWHC 3573 the High Court heard a defence to a claim for a civil recovery order over property in which the legal title was vested in Second Respondent – the ex-wife of the First Respondent against whom the Court at an earlier hearing had ruled such property…

Read more

27.10.14

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 more

Legal Disclaimer

Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.