Sellers v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth And Development Affairs & Anor [2021] EWHC 358 (QB) (19 February 2021)

Sellers v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth And Development Affairs & Anor [2021] EWHC 358 (QB) (19 February 2021)

The First Email conveyed that there are reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant of sexual misconduct and erratic behaviour, but not strong grounds; the Second and Third Emails were neutral announcements of departure and did not bear any defamatory meaning at common law.

Citation
[2021] EWHC 358
Parties
Claimant: Paul Anthony Sellers; First Defendant: Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs; Second Defendant: The British Council
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
19 February 2021
Procedural Posture
Libel Claim (defamation) / Preliminary Issues Judgment on Meaning and Defamatory Tendency
Outcome
Preliminary issues determined; only the First Email found to bear a defamatory meaning; Second and Third Emails not defamatory at common law.
Legal Topics
Libel, Defamatory Meaning, Defamatory Tendency, Employment Termination, Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Defamation Media Law Libel Defamatory Meaning Defamatory Tendency Employment Termination Sexual Misconduct Allegations

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Parties

Paul Anthony Sellers

Claimant

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

First Defendant

The British Council

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Claim (defamation) / Preliminary Issues Judgment on Meaning and Defamatory Tendency

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the First, Second, and Third Emails?
  2. 2 Do any of the emails bear a defamatory meaning at common law?

Ratio Decidendi

The First Email conveyed that there are reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant of sexual misconduct and erratic behaviour, but not strong grounds; the Second and Third Emails were neutral announcements of departure and did not bear any defamatory meaning at common law.

Court Disposition

Preliminary issues determined; only the First Email found to bear a defamatory meaning; Second and Third Emails not defamatory at common law.

Orders

  • The natural and ordinary meaning of the First Email is as set out in the judgment and is defamatory.
  • The Second and Third Emails do not bear a defamatory meaning at common law.