Krause v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2014] EWHC 293 (QB) (19 February 2014)

Krause v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2014] EWHC 293 (QB) (19 February 2014)

The words complained of are not capable of being defamatory of the Claimant; neither the reference to her gender nor the inaccurate reporting about the lawnmower could lower her reputation in the minds of right-thinking people. There is no legal cause of action for mere offensiveness or inaccuracy absent defamatory meaning.

Citation
[2014] EWHC 293 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Jan Krause; Defendant: Associated Newspapers Ltd
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
19 February 2014
Procedural Posture
Libel Action / Application to Strike Out Claim
Outcome
Claim struck out
Legal Topics
Libel, Defamatory Meaning, Strike Out Applications, Reporting of Court Proceedings, Reputation
Defamation Media Law Libel Defamatory Meaning Strike Out Applications Reporting of Court Proceedings Reputation

Case Brief

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Parties

Jan Krause

Claimant

Associated Newspapers Ltd

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel Action / Application to Strike Out Claim

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the words complained of are capable of being defamatory
  2. 2 Whether the claim discloses a cause of action in libel
  3. 3 Whether inaccurate or offensive reporting is actionable in libel

Ratio Decidendi

The words complained of are not capable of being defamatory of the Claimant; neither the reference to her gender nor the inaccurate reporting about the lawnmower could lower her reputation in the minds of right-thinking people. There is no legal cause of action for mere offensiveness or inaccuracy absent defamatory meaning.

Court Disposition

Claim struck out

Orders

  • Action struck out in its entirety