Setu Kamal v Tax Policy Associates Ltd & Anor

Setu Kamal v Tax Policy Associates Ltd & Anor

The libel and malicious falsehood claims were struck out for defective pleading and lack of reasonable grounds; summary judgment was granted for the Defendants as the Article's meanings were opinion, the basis was indicated, and an honest person could hold the opinions; the claim was declared a statutory SLAPP due to intentional conduct by Mr Kamal causing inconvenience beyond ordinary litigation, including improper injunction attempts, inflated damages, and compelled speech demands.

Parties
Claimant/respondent: Setu Kamal; Defendant/applicant: Tax Policy Associates Ltd; Defendant/applicant: Daniel Neidle
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
03 November 2026
Procedural Posture
Civil Defamation/malicious Falsehood / Ruling on Strike Out, Summary Judgment, and SLAPP Declaration
Outcome
Claim struck out; summary judgment for Defendants; declaration of statutory SLAPP.
Legal Topics
Libel Pleading, Honest Opinion Defence, Malice Pleading, SLAPP (strategic Litigation Against Public Participation), Strike Out, Summary Judgment, Economic Crime, Professional Misconduct
Defamation Malicious Falsehood Civil Procedure Media Law Libel Pleading Honest Opinion Defence Malice Pleading SLAPP (strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) +4 more

Case Brief

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Parties

Setu Kamal

Claimant/respondent

Tax Policy Associates Ltd

Defendant/applicant

Daniel Neidle

Defendant/applicant

Procedural Posture

Civil Defamation/malicious Falsehood / Ruling on Strike Out, Summary Judgment, and SLAPP Declaration

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the libel and malicious falsehood claims are defectively pleaded and should be struck out
  2. 2 Whether the Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on the basis of honest opinion
  3. 3 Whether the claim constitutes a statutory SLAPP under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

Ratio Decidendi

The libel and malicious falsehood claims were struck out for defective pleading and lack of reasonable grounds; summary judgment was granted for the Defendants as the Article's meanings were opinion, the basis was indicated, and an honest person could hold the opinions; the claim was declared a statutory SLAPP due to intentional conduct by Mr Kamal causing inconvenience beyond ordinary litigation, including improper injunction attempts, inflated damages, and compelled speech demands.

Court Disposition

Claim struck out; summary judgment for Defendants; declaration of statutory SLAPP.

Orders

  • Strike out of malicious falsehood claim and defective libel particulars
  • Summary judgment entered for Defendants on whole claim