Building Register Ltd v Weston & Anor [2014] EWHC 784 (QB) (20 March 2014)

Building Register Ltd v Weston & Anor [2014] EWHC 784 (QB) (20 March 2014)

The website publication bore the defamatory meanings set out in paragraph 25 of the judgment. Meanings (2) and (3) are statements of fact; meanings (1), (4), (5), and (6) are comment. All meanings are defamatory of the claimant.

Citation
[2014] EWHC 784 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Building Register Limited; First Defendant: Mark Weston; Second Defendant: All Clean Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
20 March 2014
Procedural Posture
Libel Action (defamation) / Preliminary Issues Hearing on Meaning and Fact/opinion Distinction
Outcome
Preliminary issue determined; meanings of the words and fact/comment distinction ruled as set out in the judgment. Action to continue.
Legal Topics
Meaning of Defamatory Words, Fact Vs Comment, Honest Comment Defence, Threshold of Seriousness, Corporate Claimant Rights
Defamation Media Law Meaning of Defamatory Words Fact Vs Comment Honest Comment Defence Threshold of Seriousness Corporate Claimant Rights

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 9 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 3
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Building Register Limited

Claimant

Mark Weston

First Defendant

All Clean Limited

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action (defamation) / Preliminary Issues Hearing on Meaning and Fact/opinion Distinction

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the words complained of?
  2. 2 Are the allegations statements of fact or expressions of opinion (comment)?
  3. 3 Are the meanings defamatory of the claimant?

Ratio Decidendi

The website publication bore the defamatory meanings set out in paragraph 25 of the judgment. Meanings (2) and (3) are statements of fact; meanings (1), (4), (5), and (6) are comment. All meanings are defamatory of the claimant.

Court Disposition

Preliminary issue determined; meanings of the words and fact/comment distinction ruled as set out in the judgment. Action to continue.

Orders

  • Parties to consider the ruling and discuss matters before a case management conference.
  • Unless compromised, parties to apply for a Case Management Conference by 15 April 2014.