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 mean that there were, at the date of publication, reasonable grounds to suspect that 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 Mr Miller's company, and that this is a defamatory meaning.

Citation
[2011] EWHC 2677 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Andrew James Miller; Defendant: Associated Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
11 November 2011
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue as to Meaning
Outcome
Claimant succeeds on preliminary issue of meaning; words found to bear a defamatory meaning at Chase Level 2.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Defamatory Words, Chase Levels of Meaning, Public Contracts, Cronyism
Defamation Media Law Libel Meaning of Defamatory Words Chase Levels of Meaning Public Contracts Cronyism

Case Brief

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Parties

Andrew James Miller

Claimant

Associated Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Trial of Preliminary Issue as to Meaning

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the words complained of?
  2. 2 Do the words bear a defamatory meaning of the claimant?
  3. 3 At what Chase level do the imputations operate?

Ratio Decidendi

The words complained of mean that there were, at the date of publication, reasonable grounds to suspect that 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 Mr Miller's company, and that this is a defamatory meaning.

Court Disposition

Claimant succeeds on preliminary issue of meaning; words found to bear a defamatory meaning at Chase Level 2.

Orders

  • Declaration as to meaning: The words complained of mean there were reasonable grounds to suspect Mr Miller was a willing beneficiary of improper conduct and cronyism in respect of the award of Metropolitan Police Service contracts.