Permission granted to bring proceedings
Hegglin v Person(s) Unknown & Google Inc [2014] EWHC 3793 (QB)
The claimant had been granted permission to bring proceedings against the defendant, and the trial was due to start on the 24th Nov 2014. The claimant alleged that the defendant allowed defamatory material to be accessed. The present proceedings concerned three applications; two from the claimant and one from the defendant.
Budget cut protesters’ claim against Met Police denied as judge rules actions to be lawful
Laporte & Anor v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2014] EWHC 3574 (QB)
In Feb 2011, Haringey Borough Council held a full council meeting to discuss proposed cuts to the authority’s budget. A number of people, including the claimants, attended the meeting with a view to protesting against the proposed cuts. The meeting was suspended due to the noise being made by the protesters. The claimants believed that […]
Court does not permit damages claim as ‘serious harm’ from defamation could not be proved
Cooke & Anor v MGN Ltd & Anor [2014] EWHC 2831 (QB)
The claimants sought damages for defamation. In this preliminary hearing the Court decided two issues: what was the meaning of the words complained of, and whether they caused ‘serious harm’ to the reputation of the claimants. The Court set out its understanding of the words at paragraphs [21-22] of the judgment. The Court noted that […]
Court dismisses Protective Costs Order but allows petitioners time to set out facts in local borough Mayoral Election challenge
Erlam & Ors v Rahman & Anor [2014] EWHC 2766 (QB)
The petitioners sought to challenge the Mayoral Election in the Borough of Tower Hamlets. Pursuant to their challenge they sought a Protective Costs Order (PCO). The successful candidate in the election, Mohammed Rahman, applied to dismiss the petition. The Court dismissed the PCO application, noting that the petitioners failed to disclose their financial means. In […]
Court grants leave to applicant for defamation matter to proceed to full trial
Hegglin v Person(s) Unknown & Anor [2014] EWHC 2808 (QB)
The applicant sought to leave to bring proceedings against Google under the Data Protection Act 1988, ss 10 and 14 seeking an injunction requiring Google to block specific sites containing defamatory statements. Given Google is incorporated in the USA the Court had to consider the requirements for service out of the jurisdiction as set out in the CPR PD […]