Brett Wilson LLP v Person(s) Unknown, Responsible for the Operation and Publication of the Website www.solicitorsfromhelluk.com [2015] EWHC 2628 (QB) (16 September 2015)

Brett Wilson LLP v Person(s) Unknown, Responsible for the Operation and Publication of the Website www.solicitorsfromhelluk.com [2015] EWHC 2628 (QB) (16 September 2015)

The claimant is entitled to default judgment and summary disposal for libel against persons unknown operating SFHUK.com, as the publication caused serious financial loss, the defendants were properly served, no defence was filed, and the court has jurisdiction as the defendants are editors under the statutory definition.

Citation
[2015] EWHC 2628
Parties
Claimant: Brett Wilson LLP; Defendant(s): Person(s) Unknown, Responsible for the Operation and Publication of the website www.solicitorsfromhelluk.com
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
16 September 2015
Procedural Posture
Defamation Claim / Application for Default Judgment and Summary Disposal
Outcome
Judgment for claimant; summary relief granted
Legal Topics
Libel, Online Publication, Default Judgment, Summary Disposal, Injunctions, Damages, Persons Unknown, Jurisdiction, Serious Harm Requirement
Defamation Media Law Civil Procedure Libel Online Publication Default Judgment Summary Disposal Injunctions +4 more

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Parties

Brett Wilson LLP

Claimant

Person(s) Unknown, Responsible for the Operation and Publication of the website www.solicitorsfromhelluk.com

Defendant(s)

Procedural Posture

Defamation Claim / Application for Default Judgment and Summary Disposal

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the court has jurisdiction to hear a defamation claim against persons unknown operating a website
  2. 2 Whether the claimant is entitled to default judgment and summary disposal
  3. 3 Whether the publication caused serious harm and serious financial loss to the claimant

Ratio Decidendi

The claimant is entitled to default judgment and summary disposal for libel against persons unknown operating SFHUK.com, as the publication caused serious financial loss, the defendants were properly served, no defence was filed, and the court has jurisdiction as the defendants are editors under the statutory definition.

Court Disposition

Judgment for claimant; summary relief granted

Orders

  • Damages of £10,000 awarded to claimant
  • Final injunction prohibiting further publication of defamatory material