“Sorry” – Statements in Open Court in Libel Actions, 2003-2010

In our post on how defamation actions were disposed of in 2010 we had a list of 46 Statements in Open Court in libel actions in that calendar year.  The figures were provided by Mr Benjamin Pell who has now drawn our attention to the “Benjamin Pell Statistic of the Month” in the David Price Solicitors and Advocates Media Law Newsletter for March 2008 which provides the figures for statements in open court from 2003 to 2008.  Mr Pell has now kindly provided us with an updated list – covering statements for each legal year from 2003-2004 to 2009 to 2010.  The figures show that the average number of statements in open court a year is 47 – last year was very slightly above average – with 2007-2008  (the year of the many McCann apologies – see picture) being the highest (63) and 2005-2006 the lowest (39).

These are the figures:

Legal Year commencing 1 October 2010 to date – 17 Statements In Open Court

including 3 by Associated Newspapers Ltd, 2 by Express Newspapers, 2 by Mirror Group Newspapers Limited, 1 by Independent News & Media Ltd, 1 by News Group Newspapers Ltd, 1 by Times Newspapers Ltd and 1 by Telegraph Media Group Ltd.

Legal Year commencing 1 Oct 2009 – 49 Statements In Open Court

including 10 by News Group Newspapers Ltd, 6 by Mirror Group Newspapers Limited, 6 by Express Newspapers, 4 by Associated Newspapers Ltd, 2 by the BBC, 1 by Independent News & Media Ltd and 1 by Guardian News & Media Ltd.

Legal Year Commencing 1 Oct 2008 – 45 Statements In Open Court

including 9 by Express Newspapers, 6 by Associated Newspapers Ltd, 4 by the BBC, 3 by News Group Newspapers Ltd, 2 by Mirror Group Newspapers Limited, 1 by Times Newspapers Ltd, 1 by Telegraph Media Group Ltd, 1 by Guardian News & Media Ltd, 1 by Independent News & Media Ltd, 1 by The Scotsman Newspapers Ltd and 1 by BSkyB

Legal Year Commencing 1 Oct 2007 – 63 Statements In Open Court

including 8 by Express Newspapers, 6 by Associated Newspapers Ltd, 6 by Mirror Group Newspapers Limited, 3 by News Group Newspapers Ltd, 2 by the BBC, 2 by Sports Newspapers Ltd, 2 by News Media Group, 1 by Times Newspapers Ltd, 1 by Telegraph Media Group Ltd, 1 by Guardian News & Media Ltd and 1 by BSkyB

Legal Year commencing 2 Oct 2006 – 44 Statements In Open Court

including 6 by Express Newspapers (plus 1 by Northern & Shell), 6 by News Group Newspapers, 6 by Associated Newspapers, 4 by Mirror Group Newspapers, 2 by Guardian Newspapers, 2 by Telegraph Group, 1 by Times Newspapers, 1 by Independent News & Media, 1 by BBC , 1 by ITV News and 1 by Sports Newspapers

Legal Year commencing 3 October 2005 – 39 Statements In Open Court

including 7 by News Group Newspapers, 6 by Associated Newspapers, 4 by Times Newspapers, 3 by Independent News & Media, 2 by Express Newspapers (plus 1 by Northern & Shell) , 2 by BBC and 1 by Guardian Newspapers

Legal Year commencing 1 October 2004 – 39 Statements In Open Court

including 6 by News Group Newspapers, 4 by Mirror Group Newspapers, 3 by Associated Newspapers, 3 by Express Newspapers (plus 1 by Northern & Shell) , 2 by BBC, 1 by Guardian Newspapers, 1 by Independent News & Media, 1 by Times Newspapers and 1 by Telegraph Group

Legal Year commencing 1 October 2003 – 47 Statements In Open Court

including 13 by Associated Newspapers, 3 by Mirror Group Newspapers, 3 by BBC, 2 by Telegraph Group, 2 by News Group Newspapers