Currie v Soho Theatre Company Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 400 (31 March 2026)

Currie v Soho Theatre Company Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 400 (31 March 2026)

The judge was entitled to find that the Press Release's attribution of antisemitic motive was an expression of opinion, not fact, and the meaning found was within the range reasonably open to him; there was no legal error or internal inconsistency.

Citation
[2026] EWCA Civ 400
Parties
Appellant/claimant: Paul Currie; Respondent/defendant: Soho Theatre Company Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
31 March 2026
Procedural Posture
Appeal (libel/defamation) / Appeal From Preliminary Issue Determination on Meaning (pre Trial)
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Natural and Ordinary Meaning, Fact Vs Opinion, Attribution of Motive, Defamatory Meaning, Preliminary Issues in Defamation
Defamation Media Law Natural and Ordinary Meaning Fact Vs Opinion Attribution of Motive Defamatory Meaning Preliminary Issues in Defamation

Case Brief

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Parties

Paul Currie

Appellant/claimant

Soho Theatre Company Limited

Respondent/defendant

Procedural Posture

Appeal (libel/defamation) / Appeal From Preliminary Issue Determination on Meaning (pre Trial)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the High Court judge erred in determining the natural and ordinary meaning of the Press Release
  2. 2 Whether the Press Release attributed a factual motive ('because they were Jewish') or merely expressed an opinion
  3. 3 Whether the judge failed to apply the law on implication and inference in meaning determination

Ratio Decidendi

The judge was entitled to find that the Press Release's attribution of antisemitic motive was an expression of opinion, not fact, and the meaning found was within the range reasonably open to him; there was no legal error or internal inconsistency.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed; the High Court's determination of meaning stands.