This case concerned a claim for breach of contract brought by Musst Holdings against Astra Asset Management.
Astra – a corporate entity – then issued proceedings Musst for slander and malicious falsehood. The two claims were joined together and heard by Mr Justice Freedman in the Chancery Division in May 2021. The Musst parties succeeded in both the contract claim and in defending the slander claim.
The Judge found that Astra had neither established that the words complained of were in fact spoken by the Defendant nor that, if they had been spoken, they would have caused or have been likely to cause serious financial loss as required in relation to corporate defendants under s.1(2) of the Defamation Act 2013.
The Judgment provides helpful and comprehensive guidance as to what is required of corporate claimants under s.1(2) of the Defamation Act 2013, and the evidential burden on slander claimants in proving publication.
Kirsten acted for the Musst parties (defendants) in the slander claim, Peter Knox QC acted for Musst as the claimants in the contract claim. They were instructed by Richard Viegas and Ryan Lynch at Collyer Bristow.