Soriano v Societe D'Exploitation De L'Hebdomadaire Le Point (Sebdo) & Anor [2022] EWHC 3370 (KB) (23 December 2022)

Soriano v Societe D'Exploitation De L'Hebdomadaire Le Point (Sebdo) & Anor [2022] EWHC 3370 (KB) (23 December 2022)

The Claimant established a prima facie case that the requested documents and subscriber information are relevant to the central issues of public interest defence and serious harm. The applications for specific disclosure are proportionate, necessary to ensure compliance with disclosure obligations, and any data protection concerns can be addressed by redaction and the implied undertaking under the CPR.

Citation
[2022] EWHC 3370 (KB)
Parties
Claimant: Walter Soriano; First Defendant: Societe d'Exploitation de l'Hebdomadaire Le Point (SEBDO); Second Defendant: Marc Leplongeon
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
23 December 2022
Procedural Posture
Libel Claim (defamation) / Interlocutory Application for Specific Disclosure
Outcome
Applications for specific disclosure granted
Legal Topics
Specific Disclosure, Public Interest Defence, Serious Harm, Data Protection, Disclosure Obligations
Defamation Media Law Civil Procedure Specific Disclosure Public Interest Defence Serious Harm Data Protection Disclosure Obligations

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Parties

Walter Soriano

Claimant

Societe d'Exploitation de l'Hebdomadaire Le Point (SEBDO)

First Defendant

Marc Leplongeon

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Claim (defamation) / Interlocutory Application for Specific Disclosure

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Defendants should be ordered to conduct further specific disclosure using additional search terms and for specific emails
  2. 2 Whether the Defendants should be ordered to disclose information about UK-based subscribers who accessed the article online
  3. 3 Whether such disclosure is proportionate and necessary under CPR 31.12 and consistent with data protection law

Ratio Decidendi

The Claimant established a prima facie case that the requested documents and subscriber information are relevant to the central issues of public interest defence and serious harm. The applications for specific disclosure are proportionate, necessary to ensure compliance with disclosure obligations, and any data protection concerns can be addressed by redaction and the implied undertaking under the CPR.

Court Disposition

Applications for specific disclosure granted

Orders

  • Defendants to conduct further searches using specified search terms for documents and emails within the defined period
  • Defendants to search Second Defendant's mobile devices for relevant material