Blog
Kingsley Napley’s Medical Negligence Team ‘walks together’ with the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity
Sharon Burkill
13 February 2014
High Court strikes out libel claim brought after YouTube video removed
In the case of Jackson v Universal Music Operations Ltd (2014), following an application for summary judgment, the High Court struck out the libel claim on the basis that it had no real prospect of success.
31 January 2014
Developments to the Defamation Act
The Defamation Act 2013 ("the Act") came into force on 1 January 2014 seeking to “overhaul the libel laws in England and Wales and bring them into the 21st century, creating a more balanced and fair law”. The call for reform arose primarily from the widely recognised viewpoint that a fairer balance needed to be struck between the protection of an individual’s reputation and the right to freedom of expression. The new Act aims to simplify the law and address some of the more alarming trends developing in recent years such as individuals and companies specifically choosing London as the place to litigate their defamation claims considering the Courts in England and Wales to be largely pro-claimant.
27 January 2014
Anti-social media – how the law can tackle online abuse and harassment
The issue of online abuse, particularly aimed at celebrities and high profile people, has come to the fore again this week. Former footballer and sports pundit, Stan Collymore,accused Twitter of not doing enough to protect its users having been subjected to racial abuse and threats of violence (seemingly because he gave his opinion that Luis Suarez dived to win a penalty for Liverpool), and Isabella Sorley and John Nimmo were jailed after they subjected Caroline Ciado-Perez, a high-profile feminist, and Stella Creasy, an MP, to online abuse after their campaign for a woman to appear on a Bank of England note.
16 October 2013
Defamation and Privacy cases – extra cost protection proposed
On 13 September 2013, the Government issued its consultation paper on cost protection in defamation and privacy claims. The recommendations put forward by Lord Justice Jackson and Lord Justice Leveson included an extension of costs protection to encompass media related litigation. The aim of these recommendations were to make it easier for people who cannot afford the cost of litigation usually associated with privacy and defamation cases, to bring and defend such proceedings.
9 August 2013
Defamation & Malicious Falsehood – discussing the Peter Cruddas case – part 2
Last year Peter Cruddas, former Conservative Party co-treasurer, commenced proceedings against the Sunday Times for defamation and malicious falsehood following the publication of a series of articles about him in March 2012. Katherine Pymont discusses.