This is proving to be quite a year for celebrity libel. First, Johnny Depp and now the turn of Rebecca Vardy. She is bringing libel proceedings against Coleen Rooney arising from the now infamous ‘Wagatha Christie” Instagram post accusing Ms Vardy of being responsible for leaking stories about Ms Rooney to The Sun. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Tag: Preliminary Issue
The removal of the right to jury trial in defamation cases by the Defamation Act 2013 has meant that the Courts can determine issues such as meaning as preliminary issues at an early stage. While preliminary issue trials on meaning have now become the norm, the issues and practices that surround them are far from settled. This post considers some recent trends and issues that have arisen in practice. Continue reading
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). Continue reading
On 19 December 2019, Warby J gave Judgment in the case of Triplark Limited v Northwood Hall (Freehold) Limited (2) Philip Whale (3) David Wismayer [2019] EWHC 3494 (QB). He found that the words complained of made a number of factual allegations defamatory of the Claimant. Continue reading
An allegation of infidelity is defamatory, but an allegation of infidelity which imperils or destroys a home and family unit is particularly disreputable. This was the position adopted by Danny Simpson, the Premier League footballer, at the trial of a preliminary issue on meaning in respect of an article published in the Daily Mirror in November 2012. Continue reading
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