Matrix Media Update – 3 February 2011

This is a Media Law Update covering the last week prepared by the Legal Information Team at Matrix Chambers, which they have kindly agreed to make available to readers of Inforrm.

Latest Cases

JIH v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2011] EWCA 42 – 31 Jan 2011.  In allowing the appeal the Court ordered that the claimant’s anonymity should be restored. Held: the Court summarised ten principles applicable in cases where the protection sought by the claimant was an anonymity order or other restraint on publication of details of a case which were normally in the public domain [21].

Announcement: Sara Mansoori joins Matrix Media Team

Matrix chambers is delighted to announce that Sara Mansoori will be joining chambers as a member of its Media Law team as from 1 April 2011. Sara was called to the Bar in 1997 and, practised for 10 years at the well known media law set, 5RB. Since 2009 she has been a Senior Lawyer at the Ministry of Justice and is currently in the Human Rights and Information Team.  She has now decided to return to the Bar and has accepted an invitation to join Matrix.

Case Law: Farrall v Kordowski – assessment of libel damages

Another solicitor has obtained an award of damages against the operator of the “Solicitors from Hell website, Mr Rick Kordowski.   On 1 September 2010 the claimant became aware of statements on the website, running to several pages, which attacked her professional competency, advice and probity.  On 5 October 2010 Ms Farrall obtained an interim injunction to restrain Mr Kordowski from publishing the words complained of (Farrall v Kordowksi [2010] EWHC 2436 (QB)).   Default judgment was subsequently entered. Ms Farrall has now had her damages for libel against Mr Kordowski assessed by a High Court judge.