The recent case of Ameyaw v McGoldrick [2020] EWHC 1741 (QB) offers a cautionary tale about McKenzie Friends and what they can and can’t do for you in court. In this case the judge, Mrs Justice Steyn, refused to allow the McKenzie Friend to make oral submissions on behalf of the claimant, saying the claimant was a well-educated intelligent woman who had extensive experience of litigation, and was perfectly capable of speaking for herself. Read the rest of this entry »
Right of audience denied: McKenzie Friend not allowed to speak for litigant who was ‘well able to speak on her own behalf’ – Paul Magrath
9 07 2020Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: McKenzie Friend, Paul Magrath, Transparency Project
Categories : Legal, Libel
Latest Judicial Statistics, 2019: Issued defamation claims up by 22%, highest number since 1998
19 06 2020
The most recent annual Judicial Statistics – those for 2019 – again show a substantial increase in the number of issued defamation claims. These are up by 22% on 2018 and 107% on 2017. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Judicial Statistics
Categories : Libel
Case Law: Serafin v Malkiewicz: Supreme Court orders retrial ‘with deep regret’ and ‘a degree of embarrassment’ – Mathilde Groppo
9 06 2020
On 3 June 2020 the Supreme Court handed down judgment in Serafin v Malkiewicz & Ors [2020] UKSC 23. The decision upheld the Court of Appeal’s finding of unfair trial, but considered that by ordering a remittal limited to the assessment of damages, the appellate judges had failed to address the consequences that should flow from this finding. Read the rest of this entry »
Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: Fair Trial, Mathilde Groppo, Mr Justice Jay, Public Interest, Section 4 Defamation Act 2013
Categories : Caselaw, Libel
Australia: Media companies can now be held responsible for your dodgy comments – Michael Douglas
3 06 2020
Part of growing up is learning to take responsibility for the hurtful things you say. As a person who often says stupid things, I often need reminding. Defamation law reflects that lesson. When you say something that hurts another person, it can cost you. Read the rest of this entry »
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Dylan Voller, Michael Douglas, The Conversation
Categories : Australia, Libel
Libel: Are meaning hearings the new norm? – Helena Shipman
21 04 2020
In libel actions, meaning is everything (or at least nearly everything). While words can mean different things to different people, in libel the parties are concerned with finding the single meaning the words complained of bear. Meaning is important, because it will determine to a large extent what defences a defendant could viably run (for example truth or honest opinion). Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Helena Shipman, Law Society Gazette, Meaning, Preliminary Issue
Categories : Libel
Monthly International Round Up – Suneet Sharma
24 03 2020
This is the fourth instalment in a regular new series from Inforrm highlighting press and case reports of new media and information cases from around the world. It is intended to complement our United States: Monthly Round Up posts. Please let us know if there are other cases and jurisdictions which we should be covering. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: International Round Up, Suneet Sharma
Categories : Australia, Canada, Caselaw, Legal, Libel
Case Preview: Serafin v Malkiewicz,”Public Interest” defence back in the Supreme Court with fair trial appeal – Persephone Bridgman Baker
12 03 2020
The Supreme Court will hear the libel appeal in Serafin v. Malkiewicz & Ors on 17 and 18 March 2020. The panel will be Lord Reed, Lord Wilson, Lord Briggs, Lady Arden and Lord Kitchin. The Appellant’s Case can be found here. [pdf] Read the rest of this entry »
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Categories : Libel
Monthly International Round Up – Suneet Sharma
27 02 2020
This is the third instalment in a regular new series from Inforrm highlighting press and case reports of new media and information cases from around the world. It is intended to complement our United States: Monthly Round Up posts. Please let us know if there are other cases and jurisdictions which we should be covering. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: International Round Up, Suneet Sharma
Categories : Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Libel
The Beautician and the Beast: Danielle Hindley v Mail on Sunday – Brian Cathcart
26 02 2020
Danielle Hindley is a chatty beautician aged 34 who lives in the former mining village of Kippax, near Leeds. In her 20s, she went through a disastrous marriage that left her single, broke and with a baby, but she worked her way back, building up a nice little business in her home while raising her son. Read the rest of this entry »
Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: Brian Cathcart, Byline Times, Danielle Hindley, IPSO
Categories : Libel, Media Regulation
Case Law, Australia: Tsamis v State of Victoria, Inflation night-club owner wins $90,000 for police slur – Justin Castelan
21 02 2020
Martha Tsamis has worked in the nightclub industry for around 30 years and is the manager of the Inflation night-club in Melbourne. In October 2013, the police brought an application to restrict Inflation’s trading hours (LCRA proceeding). The evidence was that the police brought this in an attempt to reduce the incidence of drug overdoses, improve community safety and give people confidence that ‘licensed premises’ were not ‘drug dens’. The statement in the police application referred to 59 incidents that occurred at the venue. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Defamation Watch, Justin Castelan
Categories : Australia, Caselaw, Libel
