Case Law: ZAM v CFW, Court awards anonymity for victim of libellous “paedophile” allegations – Rosalind English

The permanent damage that internet publications can inflict is very much the focus of Tugendhat J’s assessment of damages in the case of ZAM v CFW & Anor [2013] EWHC 662 (QB), encapsulated in the memorable description he quoted in an earlier judgment: “what is to be found on the internet may become like a tattoo“.

Case Law: Cruddas v Adams, Damages of £45,000 for a blog and Twitter Libel

In a judgment handed down on 4 February 2013 ([2013] EWHC 145 (QB)) Mr Justice Eady awarded the former Conservative Party treasurer, Peter Cruddas, defamation damages of £45,000 in respect of 9 blogs and 12 tweets by published by lobbyist Mark Adams.

Libel damages and Lord McAlpine: did the BBC pay too much?

There is no doubt that Lord McAlpine has been badly treated by the BBC. The Newsnight broadcast on 2 November 2012 about sexual abuse in children’s homes in North Wales in the 1970s and 1980s referred to “a leading Tory politician of the Thatcher era”.  Although he was not mentioned by name, this individual being referred to was Lord McAlpine.  He was identified before transmission on Twitter and was foreseeably identified afterwards by large numbers of people.  The report was wrong – as the BBC admitted on 10 November 2012.  It issued an unreserved apology.

Case Comment: Cairns v Modi and KC v MGN Ltd, appealing assessments of damages? – Kirsten Sjøvoll

The Court of Appeal yesterday delivered judgment in the joined cases of Cairns v Modi and KC v MGN Ltd ([2012] EWCA Civ 1382). Both appeals concerned the assessment of damages in libel actions, although the facts of the two cases were very different.

The 10% libel damages increase: questions unanswered – Isabel Hudson

As reported on Inforrm the Court of Appeal recently announced that from 1 April 2013 general damages in certain categories of cases – including for libel and privacy – will be increased by 10%.   This was originally recommended by Lord Justice Jackson as part of his ‘package’ of proposed measures in his 2010 report on reducing litigation costs, many of which measures are adopted in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (“LASPO”).

General tort damages (including defamation) to increase by 10% from 1 April 2013 – Kim Waite

In the case of Simmons v Castle [2012] EWCA Civ 1039 (a personal injury case) the Lord Chief Justice took the opportunity to announce that after 1 April 2013, general damages in tortious claims would increase by 10%. This is following the recommendations by Lord Justice Jackson in his review of civil litigation costs.

Case Comment: Bento v The Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police, Libel damages for murder allegation – Edward Craven

Allegations of murder are usually tried in the criminal courts. The recent libel claim in Bento v The Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police [2012] EWHC 1525 (QB) is a striking exception. The case had all the ingredients of a legal thriller – a mysterious death; a quashed murder conviction; a suspect determined to clear his name and a police force convinced of his guilt. It also gave rise to interesting questions of defamation law.

News: Cooper libel jury trial, claimant awarded £60,000

The first libel jury trial for nearly 3 years has resulted in a victory for the claimant. After a five day trial a High Court jury unanimously found in favour of graduate student and part time university tutor Luke Cooper and awarded damages of £35,000 against the Evening Standard and £25,000 against the Daily Mail.