Dhir v Saddler [2017] EWHC 3155 (QB) (06 December 2017)

Dhir v Saddler [2017] EWHC 3155 (QB) (06 December 2017)

The Defendant's statement that the Claimant 'threatened to slit my throat' imputed the commission of a criminal offence (threat to kill), was published to at least 90 people, caused serious harm to the Claimant's reputation, and the Defendant failed to prove the truth of the imputation. The claim was not an abuse of process.

Citation
[2017] EWHC 3155 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Raj Dhir; Defendant: Bronte Saddler
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
06 December 2017
Procedural Posture
Slander (defamation) / Judgment After Full Trial
Outcome
Claim allowed. Judgment for the Claimant.
Legal Topics
Slander, Serious Harm, Truth Defence, Abuse of Process, Publication, Damages
Defamation Tort Law Slander Serious Harm Truth Defence Abuse of Process Publication Damages

Case Brief

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Parties

Raj Dhir

Claimant

Bronte Saddler

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Slander (defamation) / Judgment After Full Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the words spoken by the Defendant were actionable per se as slander
  2. 2 Whether the words were published to a sufficient number of people
  3. 3 Whether the publication caused or was likely to cause serious harm to the Claimant's reputation under s.1 Defamation Act 2013

Ratio Decidendi

The Defendant's statement that the Claimant 'threatened to slit my throat' imputed the commission of a criminal offence (threat to kill), was published to at least 90 people, caused serious harm to the Claimant's reputation, and the Defendant failed to prove the truth of the imputation. The claim was not an abuse of process.

Court Disposition

Claim allowed. Judgment for the Claimant.

Orders

  • Defendant to pay damages to the Claimant
  • Defendant to pay the Claimant's costs