Miller v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2011] EWHC 2677 (QB) (11 November 2011)

Miller v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2011] EWHC 2677 (QB) (11 November 2011)

The words complained of meant that there were reasonable grounds to suspect Mr Miller was a willing beneficiary of improper conduct and cronyism because of his friendship with Sir Ian Blair in respect of the award of Metropolitan Police Service contracts to his company, and that this is a defamatory meaning.

Citation
[2011] EWHC 2677
Parties
Claimant: Andrew James Miller; Defendant: Associated Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
11 November 2011
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Trial of Meaning of Words Complained of
Outcome
Finding for the claimant on meaning; words bear a defamatory meaning at Chase Level 2.
Legal Topics
Libel, Defamatory Meaning, Chase Levels, Tendering Procedures, Cronyism
Defamation Media Law Libel Defamatory Meaning Chase Levels Tendering Procedures Cronyism

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Parties

Andrew James Miller

Claimant

Associated Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Trial of Meaning of Words Complained of

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the words complained of bear a defamatory meaning against the claimant
  2. 2 Whether the meaning is one of actual guilt or reasonable grounds to suspect guilt
  3. 3 Whether the imputation is defamatory in law

Ratio Decidendi

The words complained of meant that there were reasonable grounds to suspect Mr Miller was a willing beneficiary of improper conduct and cronyism because of his friendship with Sir Ian Blair in respect of the award of Metropolitan Police Service contracts to his company, and that this is a defamatory meaning.

Court Disposition

Finding for the claimant on meaning; words bear a defamatory meaning at Chase Level 2.

Orders

  • Declaration of meaning: reasonable grounds to suspect claimant was a willing beneficiary of improper conduct and cronyism in respect of Metropolitan Police Service contracts.